Speaking of Gizmo

There was a time when Gizmo would sit just out of reach of Logan and antagonize him. Then he would avoid him altogether. He has now started to eat Logan's food, while Logan is eating as well (probably because once Logan's finished there's nothing left to eat). Logan doesn't even seem to notice him there, though we do want Gizmo to realize that if he's not careful he could be a mouthful himself.

Lap cat. Lap dog. Lap hen?

We've had Gizmo sit with us on the lounger enjoying a roaring fire. We've had Logan sit with us while we watch TV. Yesterday, Jeannette was relaxing on the porch when one of the hens came hoping up the stairs, waddled over to her, and then jumped up into her lap. I wonder if Zoe the donkey is a lap ass?

While we're on the topic of driving

I travel just over half an hour each way to work. The drive is very straight forward, 2/3 of it on the highway. It means that I have some time to sit and listen to music, or whatever. Lately I've been listening to Ray La Montangue, Tom Petty, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and the CBC out of Halifax (to get the latest on what's happening in Canada). Last night I turned off the radio and just drove with the sounds of the road and the wind. On the 101 highway this wasn't particularly satisfying, since it's such a straight piece of road and without music there was no way to judge time passing (it was dark, so landmarks weren't visible).

On the twisty bits it was quite different. Sweeping through the corners and along the straights took on a different feel without the music or chatter. It was much more fun, even though I was abiding by all local traffic laws - no, really, I was. Honest, officer.

Give it a try. If you are driving on a twisty bit of road turn off the music and let yourself get into the groove of driving. It's actually quite different. If you're on the highway crank the tunes as high as they'll go because it can get mind numbingly boring on those long-straight-nothing-but-trees stretches.

We've gone green

Yes, we've gone green - valve caps that is. As mentioned in an earlier post, nitrogen has been deemed the way to go when it comes to pumping up your tires. So now that we have new snow tires on the Vue we'll be testing out the new 'air'. So far everything seems just fine, with a smooth ride on both roads and highways. The real test will be the leakage test, because nitrogen 'air' isn't supposed to leak through the tire walls the way oxygen 'air' does.

A Titanic decision?

Celine Dion has decided that she doesn't like the fact that Halifax media doesn't like her. So, she's decided to cancel her show here as a result. Okay. There are probably a number of reasons why some Haligonians have little interest in seeing Celine Dion, like the Las Vegas casino/theatre that was built for her (and later given to Cher for her show) that wasn't in Canada, or that she's been on a steady decline since she took on the above mentioned show. Or, it could be the 1 million dollars she got to appear in Air Canada commercials at a time when people at the airline were losing their jobs. It could also have something to do with negative PR over other non-artistic activities in Las Vegas.

Perhaps the real reason why there's been so much negative media coverage of her is that she's not as relevant anymore. She hasn't really done anything worthwhile since that Academy Award winning song from the movie Titanic. Ironically, there a number of victims of the sinking of the famous ship in a cemetery in...well...Halifax. Take that Alanis Morrisette!

A trivial pursuit, for sure

Finbar's Pub in Bedford. Any Wednesday night (starting at 7). Useless Knowledge Trivia Night! NTN doesn't have a chance against this. It pits team against team in an all out battle for the Useless Knowledge crown. Questions like:

What Baseball team ranks 4th in value?

How much water is contained in a swimming pool 6 metres deep X 2 metres wide X 3 metres long? A side question could be, 'who'd build a pool that's shaped like a flower vase?'

What music group contains Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford?

If you apply acid to litmus paper what colour does it change to? Blue or Red.



It's a multi round extravaganza of odd questions that you'd need a good internet connection and a small device - say a Blackberry, to really cheat...er...work your way to the top at. The lucky thing is that Finbar's happens to have WiFi, so all I need now is a Blackberry, or a way to make this laptop look like a plate of fish and chips.

BTW - Finbar's has the best Curry and Chips going. Awesome!

How long would it take you to repave 5 km of road?

If you are in any major city this might take 6 months to a year. If you are in the Toronto area it might take 6 years to a decade. If you are in Ardoise it takes about a month. Yes. A month.

The road crew (consisting of about 10 people) started by digging out new drainage ditches. They moved on to removing the surface of the road in preparation for new asphalt. As of today we have a new, smooth road, new painted lines, and no more construction crews slowing our way from here to the 101. Now that's the way a road crew is supposed to work. Not by having 30 people take forever interrupting everyone for ages and making a 5 minute drive a 1 hour nightmare. Progress? Nope. Work ethic. Probably.

Donkeys aren't really asses after all.

It turns out that horses can get lonely. It also turns out that donkeys make great companions for lonely horses. Zoe, the local donkey, was specifically brought in to keep a horse at a local farm company. They have become fast friends, and are always seen together. So, Shrek couldn't have picked a better sidekick (Well, he didn't really pick his sidekick. The sidekick kind of picked him. Maybe that's how Zoe got in with the horse?)

A very fashionable affair

The Frenchy's Fashion Show was a huge success. The community centre was full to capacity, with standing room only at show time. The models were all very stylish, and the dual MCs were very busy keeping the crowd entertained both during and between outfits. Rounding out the evening were the tasty cheesecakes prepared by the volunteers and models. Definitely a very enjoyable way to spend an evening.

Jeannette's wearing a classic casual night out dress with matching accessories

Tomorrow night is the fund raiser for the Newport Corner Community Centre. Featuring a fashion show of Christmas offerings from Frenchys, a local previously enjoyed clothing store, the itinerary also includes home made cheesecake, and coffee or tea. Jeannette, Sharon, Sarah, and a cast of tens will begin the show at 7:00 pm Atlantic time, and it will run until all of the models have taken to the runway. See you there.

Happy Birthday Logan!

Logan is 1 today. See details here.

For the first month only the trucks will change.

There's a joke with this punchline that has been floating around for years. It's one of those (Insert city/province/state/country that you would like to make of here) jokes and it suggests that roads are going to change from driving on the right (or left, if you happen to be in the UK, Australia, or any other country that drives on this side) to the other side. The punchline suggests that as a test it's only going to be trucks for the first month. Har Har Har!!!

Imaging my surprise as I drove east on 101 this morning, after following the icy Old HWY 1 to get there, to find a Maritime-Ontario tractor trailer facing me as I came over the crest at the old garbage dump. Those of you who are familiar with the 101 into Bedford-Dartmouth-Halifax will know where I mean.

It was not sideways. It was not in the ditch. It was not moving, thankfully. It was, however, facing the wrong way, with no apparent damage - though I would suggest that the occupant may have needed either a clothing adjustment or a hug, neither of which I was prepared to offer. Further along there were cars in the ditch, also facing the wrong way. When I say further along I mean Further. Again, no apparent damage.

Now that you have all of the info that I have, please explain what the heck happened, because I sure can't figure it out. How did a tractor trailer end up completely turned around on a highway that isn't nearly wide enough for it to just spin 180 degrees? Where did the other cars come from? And NO, the tractor trailer was not a car carrier, it was a completely closed trailer.

Things that make you go hmmm...

Late to bed, early to rise...

makes one wish they could win the lotto, first prize.

I don't know where that came from, it just popped into my head.

The change from daylight savings to regular daylight has meant that it gets dark around 4:30/5:00. That means that if you get up for work at 6:30 it's dark, and you get home from work at 6:30 it's dark. So the winter doldrums aren't too far off. Except that we have Christmas to enjoy before the real doldrums set in. Then we have a winter with snow and, potentially, skating on frozen ponds to enjoy before the doldrums set in. Then we have the evening fires in the woodstove, and watching Logan jump around and play in the deep snow to enjoy before the doldrums set in. Then we have the spring thaw and the budding trees and gardens to enjoy, before the doldrums set in. Then we'll realize that we've passed through winter, before the doldrums set in.

Now, where was the garden again? Was it underneath that large snowbank behind the garage, or the one towards the old stump? In no time we'll have flowers blooming there.

It was a dark and stormy night

and since it was so stormy, and so dark (not to mention cold, and I'd just driven 1 1/2 hours through a snowstorm to get home) I forgot to a/ turn off my wipers, and b/ lift them off the windshield to prevent snow from freezing them into a solid mass.

As a result I now have a fried windshield wiper motor. Doh! What are the chances of it raining or snowing over the next few days? What was the address for the local weather again?

The moral: remember to lift your blades before leaving your car for the night.

I've got good news and I've got bad news. The good news is the road just got plowed...

There are very specific specifications for the placement of a mailbox. They are designed to allow the efficient delivery of mail to rural addresses. The postal carrier drives down the road, stopping at each house, reaches out the window and places the mail in the properly erected mailbox. This works quite well, in summer, spring, and even fall.

There are also very specific specifications for the plowing of snow from roadways. These are designed to allow the maximum lane width for vehicles using the throughway.

These 2 specifications are in direct conflict with one another.

On a subsequent pass the snow plow cleared quite a bit more snow, and surgically removed the mailbox from the post, depositing it in the snowbank 10 feet away. Now that's a dead eye with a plow.

Insert favourite holiday theme here

We had a little snow last night. The first of the season. The power went out about 10:30 - came back on this morning at 11:10. Once again, Sunday morning without power. My day off. I think I'll start working Sundays so that there's a better chance the power will stay on.

BTW - I drove from Halifax to home last night at 10:00. The roads were snow covered, with more snow falling. Over the course of the entire drive I only saw one car slid off the road. Everyone else was driving for the conditions, and the congo line took it very easy all the way up the 101. I was relieved and very impressed, since there's always a strong possibility of someone in a Jeep or SUV driving way past the limit and ending up either in a ditch, or playing bumper cars with the other people on the road.

You can't go 'home'

If you do, be prepared for a surprise. The photo above is of our former house on Thirty Fifth Street. Notice the fine details around the windows. The wood trim, and hardwood floors, and the line of the roof. That was how houses were built 85 years ago. Built to last.

Needless to say there's a bit of work to be done to bring it up to modern standards.

You meet some interesting people when you travel

The world is full of stories. When you stay at a hotel, in any city or country, it's safe to say that most people aren't from around there. When you take a few minutes to chat with your fellow travellers you find out some interesting things, some of which are surprisingly coincidental.

For example, my brother-in-law's brother Peter recently started working with a company doing restoration work for people who's houses have been damaged by water, fire, or some other disaster. Needless to say he's quite busy right now after the storm that we just had through the atlantic region.

In the parking lot of the hotel is a truck with the name BMS Catastrophe on the side. Could they be in the business of causing catastrophies? It turns out that BMS Catastrophe is one of the worlds largest restoration companies. They have had as many as 2000 employees working around the world re-building commercial, industrial, and residential properties damaged by every possible catastrophe (hence the name). They've worked on the Trade Towers after 911, Hurricane Katrina damaged buildings in both Louisiana and Florida, and even projects in the UK. The one thing that they have in common with Peter, thousands of miles away, is that they help people get their lives back. Putting a house back together after such a devastating experience is probably the best thing that you can do for someone. Imagine going to a job like that everyday?

So big they should have named it twice.

However, Toronto Toronto doesn't roll off the tongue.

Flying into the city after being in Nova Scotia for a few months really feels odd. The city is so huge that the lights seem to go on forever. In reality, they almost do. While Halifax airport is set among the lakes and trees, Toronto airport is nestled into what feels like the middle of the city. The GTA sprawls out in every direction, with few dark spots representing natural greenspace (we flew in after dark).

The passenger beside me had never visited TO before, and when I pointed out the 401 as we landed said, "Geez, there must be 16 lanes!" Yes, 16 lanes of non-stop traffic. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It seems so huge now, compared to the 101, with it's 4 lanes and the 5 or so minutes of rush 'hour' as we get into the heart of Halifax.

BTW - it's snowing here now. They anticipate 5 - 10 cm of snow overnight. Needless to say, that made the drive from the airport a long and joyless experience. But the hotel is okay, and the food in the restaurant is equal to the challenge thrown down by my stomach. I'm going to do what I can to get back to the old neighbourhood to see how the house is progressing.

Exodus causes shortages everywhere

The local papers are full of ads for jobs in Alberta, yet there are plenty of jobs here in Nova Scotia. From Cape Breton to Yarmouth there's a severe shortage of labour. So severe, in fact, that people are waiting months for electricians, plumbers, gas fitters, and even retail help. The new Dartmouth Crossing retail complex is expected to need to 15000 employees. The problem is there aren't 15000 people available to take the jobs. Nova Scotia has a severe immigration problem. There aren't enough people coming into the province to fill the need, and there are thousands of people moving out west to Alberta to fill the jobs there. What to do?

Those power lines sure are strong

As I passed by the leaning tree of Mt. Uniacke this morning, and it was still leaning over the road, it struck me how strong the lines are. With the wind and the strain from the weight you'd expect the whole thing to come crashing down. Not yet. It does seem awfully precarious though, what with the road being right below. I'm sure that someone will notice before I get back on Friday. Either that or I'll be taking a detour.

The hangover continues

Even though post-tropical storm Noel has moved on to Northern Newfoundland and Labrador the effects still linger on. People who suffered extreme damage when Juan came through a few years ago were cleaning up again. Chimneys, decks, roofs, and windshields were smashed by debris and falling trees. Computer systems and electronic devices were knocked out and, in some cases, took most of the day today to get back to normal. People everywhere were discussing the impact of the storm, and some still did not have power as of this morning at 7:00 am (we consider ourselves lucky in that regard). This is an annual event, and though most of the country waits for winter to hit the atlantic provinces have this to look forward to every November. While it was a potentially dramatic, or even traumatic event it turned out to be another example of the resiliency of the everyone involved.

We've got the POWER!

Yes, you read correctly. Just before we were about to have dinner with a few neighbours the lights came on and we were suddenly brought back into the 21st century. Much rejoicing ensued, since the light was about to give way to evening darkness, and it meant that we could watch the Patriots/Colts game. Well, actually, I was rejoicing the latter more than anyone else.

We now have all of the tools necessary to survive a sustained outage, though it was a relief when things went back to normal because it was going to make getting ready for work tomorrow and my trip to Toronto on Tuesday much more difficult otherwise. Now I can sleep in tomorrow and not have to worry about trying to iron my shirt with a hot rock from the woodstove.

You do what you have to do

Since we don't have power (see tree photo) we have resorted to using an inverter in the truck to try and keep the laptop charged. Jeannette has some work to do over the next few days so with a few drives she should be able to get some of it done. It also means that I may not be updating as regularly in order to conserve power. The advantage to taking a drive is that you can sit in the library parking lot and access high-speed wireless. Woo hoo!

If a tree falls and the wind is so loud that you can't hear anything but, does it still make a sound?

A quick assessment of the damage from the storm last night revealed no surprises this morning. We've lost a few branches, which were scheduled to be dealt with anyways, and some of the lattice for the porch and deck were knocked askew, but otherwise we are as good as rain (no pun intended, really).

Here are a few shots of what was in complete darkness last night (okay, early this morning). The storm has moved on now, and only a few last gasps of wind remain to remind us of what it was like a few long hours ago. If you compare the shot above of the sheds next door to the rainbow shot from a previous post you can see the damage and the fallen trees that they suffered. I would be surprised if there weren't much worse situations all over the east coast.

On the practical day-to-day front we are still without power, and current assessments have it back by Tuesday at noon. This means some alternative methods for doing things, and I can't watch the Patriots/Colts game this afternoon, but since we have a woodstove and propane for cooking we are good to go. A neighbour has a generator (actually, most do) so we can put some frozen food in their freezer to prevent spoilage. Nothing we can't overcome. Hmmm...Bedford has power...and TV. Maybe I'll have to make a trip in to...um...get supplies. What time was kick-off again?

BTW - I never thought I'd say thank heaven for dial-up, but in this case it's been a good thing to have. The laptop battery has been holding up quite well too. We've been lucky all around.

Things that go bang in the night

The power has been out for about an hour now. It meant that the calming sound of the wind rushing through the trees was joined by the battery back-up beeping sound from the living room. As if that wasn't enough to wake us from our troubled slumber, we then heard a loud intermittent banging sound. In the darkness it was difficult to see where the commotion was coming from, but a change in the light revealed a large object swinging against the garage - the garage door. The wind had pushed aside the deck post block weighing about 30 lbs as if were made of paper mache. The chicken coop door had also been blown open, and the hens were huddled inside looking somewhat confused.

After pulling the Vue into place to prevent the garage door from continuing its late night tug of war with Noel, I nailed the chicken coop door closed and then scanned the area for other signs of disturbance. The outdoor fireplace, once a single unit waiting for wood and some pyromaniacal attention, now lays in 2 parts, separated from each other by a gust or gusts unknown.

Everything else seems to be holding up. The old TV antenna, long since replaced by the pizza dish to space, can be seen shifting around on its wall anchors as the wind gusts through its skeletal form. The fire indoors occasionally falters as it fights with the forces acting upon the chimney.

In the darkness, and when the flashlight is off it is DARK, it's very eerie. There's a combination of fascination and danger. Listening to the wind through the trees, and visualizing the crowns being bent at extreme angles, is almost hypnotizing. Then the vision of the outdoor fireplace head flying through the air brings you back to reality and you quickly find the doorway to the warmth and safety of the laptop. Well, at least I do anyways.

Waiting to run out of daylight savings

In a few minutes we set the clocks back an hour, as we go from agricultural life to hibernation. It's unfortunate that it had to happen tonight, because it means another hour of heavy rain and high winds - at times you can feel the house shudder as the gusts slam into walls. We're ready to settle in and listen to the storm in the darkness - darkness that may or not be a result of the power being out, since it's been flipping off and on for a while now. Luckily, the only thing we've seen passing by in the wind so far has been a chair on the porch, which flew by the window going one way, and then the other.

It's lucky we live in the country...

it'll be a lot easier to rustle up 2 of every animal from here.

I'm not trying to say that the rain is heavy, but former Hurricane Noel is definitely bringing some serious moisture to the area. Driving home from Halifax the wipers were on high and the speed on medium. There was so much water on the highway that at times it looked like a river running across the lane.

Now that I'm home, the wind has picked up, and at times the rain sounds like a sandblaster taking the paint off the house. The satellite dish is having a hard time staying in contact, and we're expecting a power failure any

The hatches have been battened

As the atlantic provinces brace for the remnants of Hurricane Noel - and memories of Juan are dredged up - we have loaded the house with firewood, locked the patio furniture in the garage, and taken down anything that could be wisked away to the land of OZ. Coming from Ontario we are accustomed to weather forecasts that are somewhat less than accurate. Storms, rain and snow, have been predicted before and when a sunny day results we become jaded to the Chicken Little world of meteorology. Not so here in Nova Scotia. When the call is for weather that requires neighbours to watch out for each other, it's taken seriously. As seriously as 130 kph winds and 70 mm of rain can be.