i am getting an harmonica

That's right. AN harmonica.

Finally the tie-in. ;o)

Anyway, I have been hemming and hawing over this for years. I have made several declarations to do this over the eons, but never did it. More recently, I decided it would be a good idea to help improve my memory.

At the same time, I decided to take the leap and learn this instrument with this fascinating sounding kit, at Lee Valley, finally. They were sold out! While waiting hopefully for this great store to get the kit in stock again, I could not contain myself anymore. So, recently I emailed them and they said they would most likely never get it in again.

I had been researching it on and off up until this point and could not find the kit anywhere else. Then, I looked at the image of the book on the Lee Valley website (for as long as the link lasts). Lo and behold, there was the creator's name on the book jacket.

I did some further research and found he had a website. I contacted him/them and they got back to me very quickly. I have now ordered an instruction book, cd, and an harmonica.

Hopefully, I will have it in due course shortly. If I get it before next weekend's hike, I may very well attempt to entertain the Scouts. At the least, it will probably get them to pick up the pace and maybe set a hiking record!? blbbl

not so secret slobs

So, yesterday the rooster talked about some people's "dirty" little secrets. Ha, funny.

Well, there are those that can have no shame in their mess.

They know that someone else is going to pick up after them.

Their wife, husband, mother, father, boyfriend, girlfriend, roommate, nana, gramps, even a stranger.

These expectants leave their dishes everywhere. Their flotsam from their work. Kleenex on a dresser, on the floor, behind the toilet (yes!). Drag their filth encrusted shoes through their home. Dirty clothes, including mangy underwear, on the floor, their bed, on chairs.

Well, the list is endless.

Why?

The people that will clean up after you, normally do not mind, but does it hurt to do a bit?

No.

Those that clean, will.

Those that get cleaned up after, is it so hard to tidy? Just a bit?

Put your tissues in the bin. Put your paper scraps in the recycling. Wipe your spill. Rinse your dishes, load the dishwasher. Knock the crap off your shoes outside and put them on the mat. Use the laundry hamper. Actually drop your trash in the garbage can, not go "Ooohh! So close!" when it misses.

These are small things.

Whoever is picking up, and cleaning up, after you will appreciate it. They will be happier, probably more willing to actually clean your lesser messes. It may just save your intimate relationship, your friendship, your relations with your hired associate.

It is not so hard to do a bit to save an unreasonable burden on others. Having a sense of entitlement, does not give it to you. At the end of the day, no one, I mean no one, is entitled to entitlement. 

Treat others with the decency you want to be treated with. Again, we are not savages!

Try not to live like one. blbbl

are you a secret slob?

Do you just brush crumbs off yourself on to the floor when no one is around?

Do you stuff candy wrappers in the cushions or under the couch?

Or worse, egad, throw them over the headboard or under the bed frame?

Is the sofa chair your personal hand towel?

Do you push bits of bits under carpets or throw them in to the heating vents?

Have you put fluffy fluff under a lamp or statuette?

Placed placemats over sticky coffee rings?

Turned over a cushion because you spilt juice?

Do you throw all your crap in the closets and shut them up to be rifled through time and time again?


Then you just may be a secret slob!!


Well, stop it!

Someone, sooner or later, has to clean it up. And it may very well be you who ends up cleaning it to your own chagrin.

If it is someone else who has to clean it, well, that is just not very nice. It is rude and selfish. And no, it does not matter if you hire cleaners. They are not your mothers or grannies wiping your nose or changing your nappie. There is cleaning and there is emptying out a landfill. We are not savages!

The longer it sits, the harder it is to clean and furniture or flooring may be irreparably damaged by the delay in being hygienic.

There is no reason to be deliberately oblivious. Wipe that up. Pick that up. Throw it out - in to the garbage. Get a broom. Oh yeah, get a hair cut and sit up straight! blbbl

hike-in camp aftermath

Spent the day tearing my gear apart and rebuilding it. The boy's tent dried overnight and he packed it away when he got home. My tent was left in a heap on the basement floor. When I unravelled it today, water poured out. I rolled it up covered in ice, snow, and water. That will get packed tomorrow.

All the synthetic sleeping bags were wet and/or smelly. I only normally wash them once a year. They are running in the washer right now. They too will be packed tomorrow. The down bag that the boy grifted from me was fine so it is just airing out. I miss that bag.

What else? Too much back up gear. What the boy and I brought personally was fine, just all the extra gear to cover the other Scouts if things went south. They really did not. So, at least it looks like we can now truly go lightweight. The kids just need to get better socks!

Today, another Scouter and I have already started planning a 20 klik hike. In less than two weeks. Something must be wrong with us. Perhaps we took blows to the head this past weekend and blocked it out. Seriously though, I am tickled pink that we can get these events to the Scouts.

I was actually planning for a camp in the spring and that morphed in to the hike. It is actually brilliant (no thanks to me though). There are three distance options so each Scout can hike to their confidence level. It will be a very long day when we execute it. We need to get our ducks in a row by Friday to make it happen. Really though, it just really needs to be put down in paperwork (yes, Scouting in Canada has a lot of paperwork), sign up the Scouts, and away we go.

Plus it is on a stretch of the Rideau Trail. It will put the boy within spitting distance to complete the Rideau Trail - Canada 150 Challenge. Oh boy, I cannot wait. blbbl

i survived scout camp

Well, everyone did. We have a pretty tough bunch of youngsters. Rain, rain again, freezing rain, snow! Muddy and/or submerged trails. Setting their own campfires. Knife training and the confidence and skill they had handling them. I was impressed.

It was a very good stepping stone for even more adventurous trips. Lessons learnt? Water discipline is a difficult concept to teach. Compared to my old Troop, these guys eat like birds. Effort and enthusiasm go a long, very long, way. Most kids have crappy socks. My tent needs to be re-waterproofed because I hate sleeping in my truck to avoid a swimming pool in my tent.

That was actually funny. I slept like crap in the front passenger seat. I kept waking up every hour or less finding that I slid near off the seat and my sleeping bag was all but off of me. That and I exude a buttload of water while sleeping - all the windows were coated in water droplets. I should have got my other sleeping bag and tripled-up and stayed in the tent. Well, that is another lesson, but I will be waterproofing the tent once again anyway.

Man, sleeping in a twisted broken branch kind of way in a truck sure does not leave you well rested. Hey! Another lesson. Anyway, super exhausted and I have a long day ahead of me rotating my wet gear in the basement to ensure it does not rot away before the next use.

Nighty-night bunnies. blbbl

knives, tarps, scavenger hunts, and hidden talents

Today was largely more orderly.

The Scouts all made their own breakfasts in small groups. Then I led two sessions in knife training in the morning, while another Scouter led sessions in tarp shelters.

It all went fairly swimmingly, but it did rain most of the day. Though it did not diminish spirits in the least. Everyone passed their Knife Permits and several shelters were built.

They broke for lunch, then did a scavenger hunt, organised by another Scouter, in the afternoon on the trails here. Everyone had a great time. Thankfully, it was around 8 degrees celcius most of the day.

As a result of the knife training, there was much whittling and some Scouts tried their hands at honing their blades. Funny though, when they realised the effort required in sharpening a knife by hand, they all were satisfied rather quickly in the "new" edge. No worries, they will get back to that at a later date.

I also learned that I can fashion bandaids in to shapes of animal heads as the result of a not major injury someone sustained. I made a pig, then a bear cub. I wanted to make an elephant, but was turned down.

It is now about 3 degrees and raining again. I discovered the waterproofing on my tent no longer exists. There was a puddle inside and my sleeping pad is wet. If I was truly in the bush and lightweight camping I would suck it up and do my best to persevere.

However, as my truck is actually at our site, I have elected to sleep in the cab. I am not a moron. I will investigate how to successfully longterm re-waterproof the tent. Hopefully I can. I like my little solo tent. I should have set up tarps like I always used to, but I was lazy. Not next time though. A lesson learned.

So, this is now the second time I have slept in my truck at a Scouting event. Hopefully, it is last. It is murder on the back packing a whole truck in to a campsite, even a midsized GMC Canyon. blbbl

lord of the flies meets chili

Sitting by the remnants of the campfire with a stiff breeze whipping up from the south. It is a balmy 8 degrees celcius though.

Most of the Scouts arrived at 6:30 tonight with a few earlier. It was very hectic at first. Everyone laying claim to a spot on the cabin floor.

Then a funny thing happened. In ones and twos they started asking for tents to sleep in. Originally, only two Scouts seemed interested in tenting. The boy and another hearty lad who is in his first year in Troop but a veteran of Scouting.

Both were soloing it. The three Scouters onsite, including myself, were soloing in tents as well. However, the other 14 Scouts, it was believed, wanted to stay in the cabin. Well, we only brought 3 other tents. In the end 9 more wanted to tent. Unfortunately, one lad ended up feeling a bit off, he thinks from his dental visit earlier today. So, to play it safe, he reluctantly changed his mind and moved back to the cabin. Only 6 of 16 Scouts ended up in the cabin. Pretty darned good for the end of November.

We are not worried about them being cold. They all have some form of extra bedding. Plus, we laid on chili for a late night snack. They now all have their own methane heaters to keep warm. I hope they all opened their tent flies a bit. I would not want them to asphyxiate on the fumes!? blbbl

i am the greatest writer; in my own little world

Some of my best writing, at least in my mind, never sees the light of day. At the minimum, it does not get out of the shadows.

Several hours later.....

I had a whole wordy post about how much thought I put in to my personal and semi-private communications and such. However, through a series of events, including a friend I teed-up with tonight who I had been trying to get to come by for a couple of weeks, drama on multiple fronts (one of which initiated the idea for this post earlier today), and another exceptionally long day, this is all you will get tonight.

Just know it would have been great. Not as good as the stuff only a select few get to see, but those select few who get my truly magnificent word creations are not normally friends nor fans of mine. At minimum, they are not in my good books.

So, count yourself lucky. I like you! blbbl

buying food for camp

A very long day today, but it culminated in an interesting exercise.

Our Scout Troop is camping this weekend and the Scouts set their own menus with a fixed budget based on their Patrol size.

It was fascinating to watch them and offer advice.

One Patrol Leader had quite an elaborate menu. He also had the largest Patrol, so had the most money. He came within a few dollars of his budget. He is looking at getting more eggs. He had it pretty together though.

Another Patrol Leader came within about five bucks of his budget. However, not sure his bunch will be able to snack through the day. He can still get a few things though.

The third Patrol Leader came in under half his budget. He actually has about thirty clams left. I advised him to load up on snacks to provide energy through the day.

The last Patrol Leader, the boy, had one of the smallest budgets, but came in at two-thirds of his budget. He has about a ten-spot left. Yet, he is in very good stead for food. Very hearty choices. Lots of energy in his food choices. His big meal is going to be a stoup. He is not making a bigos though. However, he knows how to make soups and stews from his old man. Not sure if he is going to get any more grub though, his Patrol does not really need any more food!

That all being said, there is still plenty of food being provided by the Troop. And myself. I cleared out a bunch of stuff from my pantry and will be pulling some items from the freezer. My donations and the surplus food from the Troop's stores will provide a lot of back up food.

Nevertheless, these young lads and lasses will learn a lot about budgeting, food choices, and preparing food in the bush.

That all being said, they will be fine. We are not going deep in to the bush this weekend. We are camping at Baxter Conservation Area. The Scouters wanted to provide an environment that simulates the bush, but is safe if anything goes awry, not that it will. We are helping the Scouts build their skills and confidence so that they can go in to the bush with those skills and confidence.

This is what I love about Scouting. Teaching and mentoring so these young people can engage in increasingly complex and sophisticated activities. Then, who knows, maybe someday they will pass on their skills to other Youth.

So, if they make errors with their meal planning all will still be well. Just remember, nobody ever starved to death while camping with Scouts. blbbl

my kingdom for a forest

Well, my moderately impoverished life of servitude for even a cluster of juniper bushes.

Yesterday, I mentioned that if you are going to have any kind of meeting, then have it in the woods, or by the water, or somewhere in nature.

Well, I now want to restate it for my case. I just want to be in nature!

Today, everything, and I mean everything, I was doing, was not going well.

Everything was jamming up, falling down, getting stuck and not moving. All for no apparent reason.

On top of that, I was drag-assing all day. I had no energy. Not at all. Every time something hung up, I just wanted to lie down. Preferably, in a copse of confers. Like a deer in a storm.

The jinxy day ended with me inserting cold, sticky rice in to the cutlery drawer. Please, just do not ask.....

Anyway, it kept bringing me back to my love of the outdoors and nature. Now, I am not particularly an overtly, or is it overly (both probably), devout man.

 I was raised Polish Roman Catholic. Not to be confused with Polish Catholic. Although, there was one of those churches in Hamilton, I believe, where I grew up. I was also an alter-boy for over a decade. However, when people ask me what religion do I practice, I usually answer that I no longer need to practice because I got it down pat. I am, of course, joking.

If I were pressed to state my faith, I usually give the above preamble, but state that I am now a broken-down Polish Roman Catholic Buddhist with tendencies towards agnosticism and faith in the universe and a supporter of the concept of karma. How do like them apples?! However, when out in nature, particularly the woods, I say that is my church.

Wow, what a strange path to get to my point. Which, I guess, I have not fully made. Basically, I feel wonderful and at peace when I am out amongst the trees, and shrubs, and rivers, and ponds, and just about anything in the great outdoors. Little bothers me, except maybe dinks who have no respect for nature. So, my church.

So, with the drag-down day I was having, I just wanted to escape to the woods and catch a piece of serenity.

I need to find someplace that will pay me to wander the woods. Really, I do.

Wow, this post is weird. Well, at least I will be at church all weekend when I am at camp with my Scout Troop! blbbl

meetings

I have had several meetings today. So, much for a day off.

The first was in an orthodontist's office. Thankfully brief. Learnt the boy is a month out from not having to wear his Tron mask anymore.

The third meeting was in a boardroom. Not normally my favourite place, but needs must. A lot was accomplished. Everyone attending was like minded and events moved quickly. In fact, I was having a side conversation to cover a supporting item and then suddenly everyone was shuffling papers and getting up. I looked around and asked if the meeting was adjourned? A few chuckles and a couple of Yups. Okay, not too painful.

However, the second meeting was the best of the lot. It was in a forest. A couple of other Scouters and myself met at Baxter Conservation Area. We hashed out a lot for this weekend's upcoming Scout Camp. We worked out contingencies based on the expected variable weather and confirmed what the Scouts themselves want to accomplish and all that sort of blather. 

You know, if more meetings were held in forests, on trails, by the water, in nature, so much more could be accomplished. I kid you not. It is healthier, both physically and mentally. There are so many fewer artificial distractions. 

Sure, the beauty of your surroundings can make your mind wander, but to very positive aspects and it does not really distract from communicating in the end. Plus, you need to flex your brain. Even if you take notes, you still need to remember a lot of what was said and agreed upon.

Yet, I find it is easier to not lose track and easier to remember details. You will associate that big bastard of a black cherry tree when you came to that elusive conclusion to a concern you were seeking. Or those ducks drifting by when you had that mini-epiphany. Or that stand of saplings those "damn" beavers took out when that new approach to an ongoing sticky point was worked out. 

It gives you clarity because you cannot doze-off in your leatherette backed rolly-chair. If you doze off in the woods, you are going probably smack your head on an old ironwood tree as you plummet to the ground.

Focus and clarity are the results of communing with nature while working. Why would it not be? Nothing is more splendid than walking through a wooded area or along the water. How could it not be? The beauty and serenity can only clear your mind to get things done. I bet your subconscious is getting your waking efforts to be done and over with, albeit with accuracy, so you can enjoy the grandeur that true nature is.

So, next time someone says: "Walk with me." or "We need to talk." Reply with: "Sure, those trees look like a great place to make tracks too!" or: "Lets hoof it over to that pond with the ducks!"

Nothing else makes sense..... trees, water, why not?! blbbl

SNOWvember

Woke up this morning to quite a bit of snow on the ground, on the trees, the roof, the road, the deck, the bird feeders. I was pretty surprised.

the view out the back door

It also made the squirrels quite bold. I guess it gave them a sense of desperation. The buggers, two of them, kept coming back. These are the latest addition to the Expanding Legion of Evil (ELoE). I think pretty much all the original charter members have moved on, been run over, or finally learnt to steer clear. Including their founder: Squirrel Vader.

These two jokers were pretty cheeky. They thought they were pretty ninja. Yet, dark bodies (melanistic grey squirrels) on white snow. So, I guess they had the dark garb of the stereotypical movie ninja, but they should have been dressed for arctic warfare.

not much better from this angle

To be fair, they were probably caught off guard as much as I was by the snow. Otherwise, they may have been much more stealthy. Lucky for me they were not. Now, I have seen snow much earlier than this, but just the amount and that it lasted all day. Especially, as it is supposed to get up to 9℃ (48℉) on Tuesday! It will most likely melt and then freeze. Hopefully, our hike-in camp next weekend with the Scout Troop does not get mucked up too badly.

Anyway, one of the knuckleheads (I am talking about the squirrels here, not the Scouts) gave up after a couple of hours, but he other went on until the late afternoon. I cut a deal with them all a long time ago, that if they stayed off the feeders and only scavenged on the ground, I would ignore them. I guess the last batch of knuckleheads forgot to pass on that little titbit to this batch of knuckleheads. Oh, like some many though.

Well, they (squirrels again) should slow down now that winter has started to flex its muscles. Alas, my potatoes are still in the ground. I suppose I could try to get them in the early spring (I think). I keep saying I got boned on trying to dig up the potatoes, but the wife is ever hopeful. She reminded me that it is supposed to warm up Tuesday and again a bit on Thursday. However, I would end up digging them up in the dark. I mean serious dark. She laughed and said we could get the boy to hold the lantern up while I dug up the taters.

Well, she made me laugh and brightened my day. Something good came out of the day. blbbl

scouts and santa

So, today was the Santa Claus Parade in Kemptville (officially now North Grenville).

Yes, Santa. Clause. Parade.

No, not a Winter Festival March. No, not a Snow Dance. No, not a Cannot Use Santa Or Christmas In The Name Parade.

It was sponsored by the Kemptville Kinsmen. Other groups were invited as well of course, including our Scout Group. Some groups helped collect cash, food donations, and toys to help people who need it.

The name may not appeal to some, but sorry. Not everybody can be happy all the time. It is not named that to offend or upset people. The parade is for people to have a good time and to be able to help others. So, to me, I do not care what you call it.

I would help at Satan's Food Drive if it helped others.

Is it getting warm in here? blbbl

feedburner feed too big? how to fix it

So, yesterday I had problems with my blog and I found a solution. Instead of explaining how I fixed it all, I will point you to another blogger, Lauren Wayne, and their post of the solution. My experience was very similar to hers and it was her post that allowed me to actually repair my email feed. Her post is not only great for the fix, but also witty and entertaining. Whether you blog or not, I recommend reading it for the humour and wit.

I will add one thing though. My Feedburner email push did not happen right away, so I changed the delivery time to force it earlier. That sent it through quickly, then I changed it back to my original push time. One would need not do this except if they did not want to wait to ensure the procedure worked. Me, I was too impatient and eager to see the fix work as I am sure many would not be able to wait either.

Anyway, click the link below to a funny and creative fellow blogger for an enjoyable and educational story. blbbl


FeedBurner feed too big? How to fix it: A behind-the-scenes look at writing and blogging, with tutorials, tips, and personal experiences for bloggers, authors, readers, novelists, and poets.

oh, the turmoil

So, my email feed did not go out today. 

As a result, I am learning a whole lot of nothing about Blogger and Feedburner.

There was one ray of hope. From another blogger in fact. I have asked her permission to repost her solution as it it was the most clear instruction on how to fix my woes. Plus, it was well written, witty, and my experience mirrors hers very closely.

My woes, by the way, are not yet fixed. I am waiting on Feedburner to do something. Any minute now I should know if it did actually work or I am screwed. I have some other options, like rebuilding the feed and hoping I can get the word out to those that subscribe by email to redo their feed.

I may also need to wait until tomorrow or the next day to see if the problem has been corrected!?


Hooray! Hooray! It seems to be fixed. Feedburner just pushed yesterday's post!

Now, I need to change some settings back and then see if today's post comes through tomorrow morning.

Now, if only my Gmail would sync between my mobile phone, tablet, and pc!?!?!?!

I know, I know. Who really wants to hear about all this garbage?

Well, as we get more and more wired every year, every month, every day, every hour, every minute!!! Every second? These issues become more of a part of many (most? all?) people's lives.

Hopefully, as I found a faster way to fix my problem from someone else, maybe, bitching about my woes will help the next person(s) fix problems faster. Sadly, the increased dependence on technology is not going away. If anything, it will become more and more a part of who we are and how we function.

I do see myself someday living in a little shack without tech, at least not too much, maybe a few solar panels and a hookup to keep posting. The wife even conceded the other day that it was not an impossible reality, but for the boy.

We are not savages you know. We respect most of modern medicine (including dentistry, other than my personal woes with my teeth), science, and technology that improves life, but there is much that is superfluous for goodness sake!

I know that I probably could never completely eschew technology, but I do want to be that old guy with the big old style ballcap with the mesh back in full dungarees that young so-called hip people drive by and wonder how someone who looks three days older than God could still trundle down the road with that cart (filled with walnuts and rocks of course to throw at salespeople and slackers) and not fall down from the breeze caused by their hovercar. blbbl

the barbarians are at the gate

Hell, they have dismantled the gate, annihilated the city, laid waste to the entire landscape.

I know most of you do not know what I am talking about, but there are those that do.

Those fighting the barbarians.

Also, the barbarians themselves.

To the fighters, of which I am one: Never give up! Never surrender!

To the barbarians: Get bent!

The barbarians thought they kicked my ass. Well, I did an endrun around them and moved it to a new address and now, and always, they can take a flying leap for having been, and continuing to be, such assclowns!

To my brothers and sisters, stick it to them. They will eventually reveal themselves to be what they really are: small-minded, petty, vicious, self-interested, and destructive.

Do not allow them to keep you from doing the good works you do.

Fight the corruption and megalomania!!! blbbl

some people are never satisfied

After several events today, that is all I have to say.

Except.....

I know I bitch and moan. I know I often air my grievances, but it normally takes a lot for that to happen. That, or something just plain stupid, ridiculous, or outright bull.

So, you know what?

Everybody needs to lighten up. Myself included. (Probably.) blbbl

non-stop

Since I was awoken at the sleep clinic this morning at 5:45 AM I have not stopped moving. I have been like a perpetual motion machine.

I was there for the boy this morning while he got disconnected from all the wires, leads, and contacts.

The wife picked us up. Had to take the boy home to get the rest of the goo out of his hair from the contacts.

A sort of break was that we went out to breakfast in a great restaurant, Royals, in Richmond. More on them in another post.

Then, we get home. Emails. Lots of emails.

Then, even though I stopped for a coffee, more emails.

Then, helped the boy pack his ruck for a demo to the other Scouts of what ones gear should be like, and its weight, for a two day camping trip. The good thing, now we do not have to do it next week.

Tons of little things around the house. More email, more this, more that.

Help the boy organise his input for the actual camp next week.

Organise supper. More emails, more this, more that.

Actually sat down for supper. Now, the wife is tidying, I am writing.

How do we get so bloody busy. Every email I have read, responded too, or chain I initiated, were all relevant work. None of it was trifles or superfluous.

Oh yeah, I have also been reconfiguring my phone in an attempt to increase its efficiency and improve battery life. I have learnt how intrusive some apps actually are. They basically blackmail you to allow unnecessary access in return for the "privilege" to use their apps. I have so far managed to lock most everything down except some supporting apps for Google Play. Not impressed by that to be honest.

Anyway, it has now just passed thirteen hours of constant motion, activity, and/or virtual action. I have had busier and longer days, but this one just sticks out. Maybe from having slept in a foreign bed, away from my home and my complete family? I do not know, but I do know that this day has worn on me. I will also have a fully stacked week. Right through the weekend probably and next week will be no less action packed.

Maybe I am getting old. I do not know. I do know that I am dropping this post on the interweb in a few moments and then I am going to watch The Blacklist on Netflix. Looks interesting, even though some of the players appear to be not smart enough to have the "jobs" they do on this show. 

At least it should let my mind rest a bit and allow it to review all that has occurred in this past half-a-day and prepare for the onslaught of the next week or two and beyond.

Wow, I just realised I am looking forward to spending Christmas with the wife's family. Not that I do not enjoy their company. I just mean that I will be able to mainly relax and just be. Plus, I also get to spend time with my best and oldest friend.

Oh, I hope Santa is good to me. blbbl

rock-a-bye

Taking the boy for a sleep study tonight. He gets a bed and is hooked up to a bunch wires and everything is monitored and recorded.

I had one done some time ago. They told me I had sleep apnoea. What a surprise!? Not really. I already knew. They wanted me to get a c-pap.

Yeah. Bite me. I am not ready to impersonate Darth Vader at bedtime. I taught myself to sleep on my side, which in my case, all but completely eliminated the apnoea.

The wife got one too, but the nurse at the hospital where she went had no idea what she was doing and basically screwed the test to be valueless.

In the case of the boy, he goes through cycles where he has much trouble sleeping. He had been tested once before at a childrens' hospital, but like as the wife's case, the results were inconclusive.

We pretty much are certain what it is that gives him poor sleep at times. So-called restless legs. It runs in the wife's family and sometimes when I look in on the boy in the night he looks like a parkour ninja.

Not sure much can really be done about it, but a diagnosis one way or the other would allow us to take steps or whatnot to work through it.

So, in a couple of hours we head to the clinic. Like I said, the boy gets a bed. As he is a minor, someone needs to stay the night. I volunteered. I get a chair. Apparently, they are going to try to save me a la-z-boy recliner.

So, I have my phone and tablet charging so I can read some online news articles. I have my copy of Walden/Civil Disobedience to read as well. I have packed a few other odds-and-sods. I bet the boy sleeps like a rock. Me, I think I am in for a long night. blbbl

lest we forget

Today is Remembrance Day, please participate positively in a local ceremony. Thank you.

my local cenotaph

Thank you to all who served and continue to serve. Air, land, and sea; military and police.

blbbl

nice to be appreciated

So, I renewed my Royal Canadian Legion membership a few weeks ago. I stopped by my Branch to pick up my new card. Now, they are perpetual plastic cards with little renewal stickers. Cool. Looks like I can set myself up to renew online as well. Cool. My Branch is about a thirty minute drive from me.

While I was driving home, I was reminded about the new Canadian Forces Appreciation Program. They used to have some funky parameters to get a former service id card. As a result, I could not get one. Not cool. They revamped the program and now it is like a super discount card. Cool. Someone I know who still serves in my last Regiment told me about it.

I decided, as we are on the cusp of Remembrance Day for this year, that I would get off my computer butt and go online and get it rolling. I searched all over the house for my military service paperwork. I did find it in the end, took pictures, converted them into pdf documents and merged them in to one document. Not as hard as it seems. Cool.

Then I went to the website and filled the form online. Cool. I submitted it. Then, bam, nogo. My service number did not comply with a standard format. Not so cool. You see, when I was in, they did not have service numbers. Soldiers, sailors, and airmen used their Social Insurance Number (SIN) as their service number. This was some time ago. Since then, of course, all soldiers, and many veterans and former serving members have service numbers issued by the military. (I do not consider myself a veteran as I did not serve in "combat", peacekeeping or peacemaking duties, nor even overseas. I was strictly a peacetime reserve soldier with some regular army training thrown in.)

I called the Program's "800 number" and had a very helpful person. Cool. She told me that with the SIN it is very common for the online application to be rejected. Sometimes it goes through, but more often than not, it fails. She told me to download the form, fill it out, and email it in. Cool. In fact, we filled out forms for the boy, the wife, and myself. Cool. I sent them off via email. Cool.

We should get our cards in a couple/few weeks. Hopefully cool.

So, if you know someone who is serving, has served, is related to someone like that, plus RCMP, and even some DND type employees, tell them about this Program. There are even allowances for many others as well, check it out. It can only grow and offer even more advantages for people who serve, or served, this great nation. Even if you no longer reside in Canada there may very well be benefits. I will be exploring this Program in greater detail over the next few weeks.

As I have mentioned Remembrance Day and serving one's country, I will add a brief spiel about it as it is tomorrow. Remembrance Day is commemorated by the British Commonwealth of Nations and several other nations, including Belgium (the wife and I were there one year during the ceremonies). Some nations have other names for it and some other days as well. For some basic information click on the links above.

I will say this though. It is not a celebration. Particularly, not a celebration for war or death or destruction. Those who believe that can kiss my ass. Then, do some research. Real research. It is a commemoration of those that served for our freedoms, the freedom of peoples and nations, and did not return from that struggle. it is a commemoration of people, not events. Yes, it traces its origins to the First World War, but that is it. It commemorates all who served and fell, regardless of conflict.

To many, including myself, it also commemorates those who came back from these conflicts, physically damaged, psychologically damaged, and even those who were, or at least appear to be, undamaged in any way. It also commemorates those who continue to serve.

There is a saying: If you like your freedom, thank a vet. I take pride every time I see someone in uniform, or in veterans apparel, or who just mention that they served their country. I am not asking you to enlist, but please respect those who served and those who currently serve. If you must, please save your disagreements or protests for the other 364 days of the year.

Remember, it is nice to be appreciated. Attend a ceremony tomorrow and give your respects.

Lest we forget.

Lest we forget.

blbbl

i have a headache in my eye

Well, the axe is gone.

Now, there is a large, pointed object sticking out from the middle of my melon out of my left eye. I think it is a harpoon.

Joy and bliss.

I thought I had settled my karmic tab.

I guess this is the interest.

The universe is a very well organised and underhanded loanshark. The big bang probably can be traced to Sicily and its real name is probably something like Vinny Horsenuts or some such.

Ow. It hurts to chuckle. blbbl

who put the axe in my skull?

This post, out of necessity, will be short.

I have a migraine coming on. I actually sensed it about a half-a-minute before the pain turned on.

I used to get them very frequently. Now, thankfully, not so much.

For me, they can be related to weather events. (I get extreme pain in my knees as well sometimes from storms.)

They can be a reaction to excessive sound.

Sometimes, I get migraines from dehydration or major hunger. However, this is actually rare for me. The migraine resulting from thirst/hunger that is.

Stress does it too.

They can come on from interaction with others. Usually, the kind where you want to bang your head during the interaction. It seems the subconscious obliges with the pain that would be the result of such a foolish endeavour.

Well, I am pretty certain this one is from the last category. 

I guess there is some karmic debt I overlooked.

Oh well, time to pay my bill. blbbl

what? i can't afford that!

I hear this all the time.

What does it really mean?

Personally, on one plane of existence, I cannot afford anything.

I have no substantial amount of real money. 

My house is mortgaged. My truck is financed through next year. I buy much through credit cards and carry the balance forward, for months and years. My bank account is not overflowing by any means.

Really, I own nothing and most all I purchase is beholden to various financial institutions and creditors.

So, I cannot afford anything.

Or can I?

Of course, groceries, consumables, clothing, treats that make life simpler and/or more enjoyable are purchased/acquired at regular intervals. My fridges, freezers, pantry, cold room, and cupboards are stocked. My closet and dressing stand are full. I have more than one pair of footwear. I have jackets and coats for all kinds of weather and occasions. I have two western hats. I have a boatload of camping and outdoor gear and continually acquire more.

Ah, I continually acquire more stuff for the bush. Do I need it? Maybe not. Yet, how do I buy it if I have no money of my own?

Well, I chose what to acquire and purchase through my credit and meagre earnings.

I choose what I can afford.

This past spring, I "needed" a new mobile phone, and, I got one. Being a cheapskate, I decided I could not afford the cost of one though, but I decided it needed to be replaced. Luckily it cost me almost nothing. Otherwise, I would still be losing my mind with the last one. In the end I could "afford" it.

Of course, we need to eat and clothe ourselves. So, we choose to afford that. Do I buy filet mignon? No, I cannot afford that. I buy the ones that have discount stickers on them. It often costs less than $4.00/lb ($8.82/kg). That, is now a very good price for any cut of meat or poultry. I remember not too long ago when I would never pay that. More than $1.00/lb for chicken was outrageous, $2.00/lb for pork ridiculous. I was buying "good" steaks for less than $4.00/lb.

My/our perceptions of affordability change. Often out of necessity.

Yet, when someone says I cannot pay someone X to do Y, but I can afford X-Z, who are we kidding? You may have an iPhone 7 that cost $900. Did you really need to get that phone? You can buy a mobile phone for as little as $40.

The wife and I choose to afford to have the boy in Scouts. I can teach him everything the Scout program has to offer myself, without fees, dues, etc. 

We choose to afford the boy's Medieval Martial Arts training. We could just have him beat the crap out of stuff out back with toy lightsabers and sticks, but obviously with far less skill.

We choose to afford the boy's swimming lessons, even though he already knows enough not to drown.

We choose not to afford to pay someone to clean our home. We clean it ourselves, albeit far too infrequently, instead of nickeling-and-diming someone over the cost.

If we feel we need to purchase something that we cannot afford, we take steps to afford it. Like not buying a $900 phone in order to afford to repair a broken down stove. We choose not to buy luxury food items so we can afford food that is more nutritious and more plentiful.

Of course there are people who cannot truly afford much. Many struggle to pay their mortgage or rent, utilities, enough groceries for themselves and their families. These souls generally are very good with their money and any hiccough in their lives can put them in a financial tailspin. Sadly, many people do not understand that there are those that have lives where they must choose to put food on the table or clothe their children at the sacrifice to replace their own worn out life necessaries.

I have known several people with such a financial situation. I myself have had periods in my life where I needed to decide how I was going to pay for a necessity and what would be sacrificed. No, I never had it so bad that I could not buy groceries or had to wear shoes that were well past their serviceable lifespan or freeze in winter for want of a coat, but I have an inkling of what it can be like to make those so very hard choices of what to go without in order to not be evicted or be able to eat for one more week.

So, next time you say you cannot afford those lessons for your kid while you are checking your facebook account on your $900 phone, or you are looking at vacation packages and wishing you could afford the private cabana instead of the regular room, shake your head and think about it. There are people not thinking about what to have for lunch, but if they can truly buy any groceries in order to have a PBJ sandwich.

The question is not: "What did you have for lunch today?", but "Can you have lunch today?" blbbl

hug a bully

I was working on something else entirely. In fact, it is mostly done. However, you do not get to read it today. Maybe tomorrow.

I have decided to say something instead. Take it or trash it. Your choice.

Bullies come in all forms, shapes, and sizes. The worst kind in the adult world are probably bullies of words.

They can be very hard to recognise. They probably get away with bullying far more often than physical and psychological bullies.

They are the ones who speak or write in a lofty manner. It is not uncommon for them to use these words incorrectly. They will also pick apart those they perceive as a threat or in opposition to them.

Often, they are fighting their very allies.Yet, they cannot really have allies, because bullies want to be on top by themselves.

They will use a typo as a means to belittle you.

They will deny the truth of their own statements when they are quoted by others if they think it dismantles their dominance.

They will privately contact you and tell you how wrong and horrible you are. Often in an abnormally aggressive, rude, and demeaning manner. Then, they will state in front of everyone how you misunderstood what they said or wrote and condescendingly explain your inferior thinking.

On the surface, it appears there is no point confronting such contradictory, contrarian, circular people. They constantly shift their stance, they usually pick few targets. Usually, someone will let themselves get sucked in, thinking they are entering a friendly discourse. They will fall for the trap over and over and over. Eventually, these victims look like fools, blowhards, and jerks. It would be easier just to let the bully blather on and congratulate their own brilliance without ever entering the discussion.

These victims often can lose whatever positive outlook they have. Here the bully of words wins. However, sadly, the bullies are the real losers. They can only feel good about themselves and their ideals at the expense of others through misrepresentation, guile, deceit, and the twisting of words, their own and that of others.

They often destroy the very thing they are trying to control.

How did they become that way? How do you stop them?

I am no research scientist, nor do I play one on television, but maybe, just maybe, they just were not hugged enough by their moms.

So, hug a bully. At best they may lighten up and not be such dicks. At worst they may try to deck you. (Probably not though as they pick on others not with fists but words.) Most likely, you will just confuse the hell out of them and they will think you are crazy and should not mess with you.

Whatever works I guess. I will have to put on my hugging shirt really soon..... blbbl

canadian tire fixes it right - almost

So, last night while the wife was on the phone with a friend I was tooling around on the interweb. I came across a handheld rangefinder at Canadian Tire. (I will not link to their website as it is awfully slow at times and may lockup or crash your computer, seriously. Look it up on your own if you feel the need.)

I was not even looking for a rangefinder. Regardless, I found a Halo brand rangefinder that is normally $250 on clearance for 50 bones. I have wanted a rangefinder for a long time. My eye was on one that Bass Pro sold exclusively as it had 8x magnification and red illumination, blah, blah, blah. However, I gave up on Bass Pro when they thought I was going to stand in line for an hour or two to wait my turn to give them my money. You see, optics, most of which are locked up in their store, have to be perused through the gunshop. Well, there were an awful lot of people lined up thinking they were getting deals and waiting their turn to give their money to them. Not me, I said bite me and left.

So, when I accidentally found this one, I was surprised, especially the price. The wife said to go for it. I ordered it through my Canadian Tire app on my phone, which is moderately better than their website. I woke up this morning to an email from "Crappy Tire" telling me I cancelled my order. I do not normally online shop in my sleep so I was surprised that I somehow did this during my slumber-time. I figured there were some shenanigans going on. I went online and saw the one unit at my selected store, that I thought I bought the night before, was still for sale. 

I proceeded to buy it again. Their website was doing their frequent lagging. It was taking a ridiculous amount of time to load through the various pages of my re-purchase. Then! It! Happened! BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH!!!!!!

Are you frikin' kidding me?!?!?!? Canuck Pnue just crashed my computer. I went to my tablet to try to carry on. Nope. Could no longer click in to the item. I! WAS! LOSING! IT!! I figured I was doomed. That by the time my system restarted and I got back to the item I would be just as boned as on the tablet.

Oh, what was going on? I reloaded all the crashed Chrome pages and I was still at the check out. I completed it, somewhat excruciatingly. I bought it again. I got a confirmation email, printed the order information and called the customer support line to confirm my purchase.

They contacted the store directly to confirm the item was in stock. Apparently, it was not. It was a stock count error. In the meantime, I allegedly cancelled my order again. This was absolutely not on. I explained how this was unacceptable. How, such a large company as Canadian Tire, could be so inefficient. Sure stock count errors occur, but why send a message that says thy buyer cancelled the purchase, each time? Why not be honest and say the product cannot be found? Why not offer to contact the customer and offer a reasonable alternative? Why not want to try to keep my business?

Anyway, lots of answers to my questions. None that were very satisfactory. Oh, and while on the phone with Customer Service, I checked the website after the second cancellation. The rangefinder was relisted, again. It still is. Apparently, it cannot be removed until Monday. Really, they are a seven & twenty-four operation through their website sales component. Therefore, they should be supporting their services properly as well as their customers. That rangefinder should not have been able to get to a super price reduction and purchasable online, if the product is missing.

Oh, you may not realise how The Tire operates their website. You need to pick a store and then it shows the products that store has. Some, regularly carried items and flyer items will show up if your store does not have it and give you the opportunity to select other stores to purchase items. However, many items, like this rangefinder will not show up if your selected store does not have the item. It is all very confusing actually. I have often been unable to find items that I know Croatian Tire sells, due to their confusing and poor website and their protocols.

Wow, I feel like I have been writing this for days. That is how exiting this really is.

So, anyway the customer service representative, who was very nice, but limited in power and ability to fix my woes, did end up offering to send me a $25 gift card if I bought another rangefinder that was on sale. It is basically the same model, but a more recent version, $10 more at regular price than the first one ($260), but only on sale for $180. So, I basically said, big deal, $25 off, so I pay $155 for a rangefinder I should be getting for $50.

She offered to pass me on to her supervisor. I asked if her supervisor could do better. She said no. I said it was unfortunate that this could not be fixed properly. They could not source the first rangefinder from another store as they told me they could not search the national stock count. I find that dubious and very odd if that is really the case. They cannot sell me a comparable rangefinder for a comparable price. Most businesses will do as much as reasonably possible to satisfy their customers.

Canadian Tire Corporation, at this point in my pursuit for a product they offered to sell me, appeared not to want or care to do that. I mentioned I was going to write about this unfortunate result. She was a little put out. She was shocked that I was going to put it on television and call the media. Wow! Okay? Not where I was going, I said so as well. I said I was just going to write about what happened and that I hoped that it would spread around. To be honest, I have no need to say anything. Many people I know and meet, including in Canadian Tire retail locations, are very unhappy with CTC. Why, because like a lot of companies, they do not understand or care about their customers. Thereby they fix no problems of their own making, expecting that every customer lost is easily replaced. That can be true sometimes, but eventually the only people who are not your customers are the ones you have alienated and pissed off. so, when you keep losing customers, how do you get new ones? Hope to ride out an entire generation and get their kids when they become mainstream consumers? Good luck with your "who gives a crap about our customers, there are always more" business model.

Then, she offered to pass me on to her supervisor again, obviously misunderstanding my intent to post about this. After several minutes on hold, we covered most of all that I went through already with the first Rep. Then she offered me a $100 gift card if I buy the $180 rangefinder. I figure that will be the best deal I will see in a long time for a rangefinder. I mention that they only have one listed on the website for that store. So, she even calls the store to make sure there is one in stock and it is waiting for me.

I find that amazing because I have never heard of a Canadian Tire in a "big" city ever hold an item for a customer. Small town Canuck Pnues, yup, they sure do, like the one in Kemptville. They will even book appointments in their garage, unlike the ones in the cities. Those big city guys know that there are enough people who will limp in to their garage with urgent repairs, why waste energy booking and helping customers who plan ahead?

So, I agree, but ask how this exactly works. Well, I go to the store, I buy the rangefinder, I get home and call Customer Service back and they take relevant information from the receipt and they send me the $100 gift card. Not necessarily ideal as I have to spend the $100 they are "giving" me at their stores, but with the points I should get today, I should be able to get that sleeping bag I am saving for to complete my three-season sleep system. Plus, the fact that the wife wants a four foot tall light up moose they sell for an outdoor Christmas decoration, that gift card is good and spent already.

So, I do all that and when I call to get the gift card expedited to my mailbox, the guy I get on the phone starts telling me about faxing in the receipt and blah, blah, blah. I interrupt and tell him that that is a huge pain in the ass. Surely, there must be a better way? After all, why tell me to call? Why not tell me originally to fax it in? Really? Fax? I should at least be able to take a picture of it and email it. No?

So, this guy puts me on hold and after a few minutes, he asks me to read off some information off the receipt. Yay! Something appears to be sinking in over there. He tells me it will take about two weeks for me to get the gift certificate. If I do not get in in two weeks to call them, just in case. Well, that inspires confidence!?

Ha, ha, I was just trying to look at that sleeping bag I want. It is on sale and I wanted to see for how long; it does not say, so probably only one week. Just about had a double-barrelled stroke form the chrushingly slow website that also was locking up my attempts post. I thought I was going to lose what I typed.

So, even though CTC seems to have placated me as a customer, they did not do all that of a very good job at it really. They also need to train their staff better and improve their software. They need to act like a quality online company too if they want to promote themselves as one. If not, with all these growing failings, they will go the way of Sears Canada. Anybody can come crashing down. They are certainly promoting themselves as a prime candidate for selection.

Gee, I hope I get that gift card quickly. I would not want to be stuck with it and unable to spend it when they are out of business. That would suck for me. blbbl