The Wonders Of Ketchup

It's estimated that ketchup is in more than 80 percent of all homes in Canada. Ketchup is easily one of the most-used products around the whole world.

It is the inseparable companion of the french fry and the burger. Americans use ketchup on hamburgers, hot dogs and french fries. People in China like to use it on fried chicken, but in Sweden it's used on pasta. In Thailand teens dip potato chips in ketchup, while in Eastern Europe it is a favourite pizza topping.

But ketchup is more, much more, than a mere condiment.

It could aid in prostate cancer prevention. Yes it does, the H.J. Heinz Co. argues in all seriousness, which is busily repositioning its flagship condiment as just that.

It's the lycopene in tomatoes. And there is evidence, although it is still far from a certainty, that lycopene somehow wards off prostate cancer.

And from Readers Digest we get:

Ketchup isn’t just for hot dogs and burgers. It has unusual stain-fighting powers as well:

POOL HAIR: Does chlorine turn your blond hair green? Fight back with a ketchup shampoo. Massage ketchup liberally into your hair, leave on for 15 minutes and rinse out with baby shampoo. Not only should the discoloration be gone but the chlorine smell, too.

COPPER: Brighten your copper pots and pans using ketchup as a cheap tarnish remover. And you won’t need gloves. Coat the copper surface with a thin layer of ketchup and let sit for five to 30 minutes, depending on the severity of tarnish. Rinse and dry immediately.

SILVER: Ketchup will help your silver rings, bracelets and earrings sparkle. If they have a smooth surface, dunk them in a small bowl of ketchup for a few minutes. If they have a tooled or detailed look, use an old toothbrush to work ketchup into crevices.
To avoid damaging the silver, don’t leave ketchup on for longer than necessary. Rinse clean and dry thoroughly.

Ontario Drivers - Attention

Please see message below.

Hi Friends,Someone I know sent me this:

I just had an experience which I hope you will not share.

I was driving on the 417 West at Panmure at broad daylight at 2 p.m.,when I came upon two police cruisers who had pulled over a thirdvehicle. I slowed down to be cautious, and was surprised when the second cruiser pulled out and pulled me over.

Approaching on the passenger side, the officer asked if I knew why Ihad been pulled over. I honestly expressed that I had no idea.

He informed me that Ontario law now states that when approaching anyemergency vehicle, on the roadside, with lights flashing, you must enterthe left lane. He then proceeded to ticket me, taking three demerits andissuing a fine of , wait for it, . . . $490! (Yes, I'm choking as I type that.)

I realize I did not change lanes, but I do believe I was cautious. Mymessage is, be careful. He said that they are cracking down hard on thisbecause of three injured officers in the last ten days. I did not realize this was the law. Neither did any of my recently-licensedchildren. Or, evidently, not the 47 drivers (I counted) who broke the samelaw as I sat waiting to receive my ticket!

__________________________________________________________________

Hi,

For my part, I saw this happen today (Feb 24th) on Highway 69 South of Sudbury, on the passing lane on the Magnetewan flats. A cruiser was parked on the shoulder of the southbound lane with his lights flashing. He had no vehicle stopped, he was just parked there.

I was northbound and reduced my speed, the extra lane was on the southbound side so, there were two lanes between me and the cruiser.

A southbound motorist passed the cruiser without moving to the outer lane and the Officer immediately pulled out and gave chase to that driver.

I saw him stopping him in my mirror before going over the next hill. The car did not appear to be speeding, in fact he seemed too slow, but failed to change lanes and was (presumably) stopped for that reason!

Ted

Read the actual Law below:
Below is the the excerpt from the Ontario Highway Traffic Act. relating to this offence. It is under section 159.1 (1), (2), (3),(4),(5).

Approaching stopped emergency vehicle

159.1 (1) Upon approaching an emergency vehicle with its lamp producing intermittent flashes of red light or red and blue light that is stopped on a highway, the driver of a vehicle travelling on the same side of the highway shall slow down and proceed with caution, having due regard for traffic on and the conditions of the highway and the weather, to ensure that the driver does not collide with the emergency vehicle or endanger any person outside of the emergency vehicle. 2002, c. 21, s. 1; 2007, c. 13, s. 20.

Same

(2) Upon approaching an emergency vehicle with its lamp producing intermittent flashes of red light that is stopped on a highway with two or more lanes of traffic on the same side of the highway as the side on which the emergency vehicle is stopped, the driver of a vehicle travelling in the same lane that the emergency vehicle is stopped in or in a lane that is adjacent to the emergency vehicle, in addition to slowing down and proceeding with caution as required by subsection (1), shall move into another lane if the movement can be made in safety. 2002, c. 21, s. 1.

Same

(3) Nothing in subsection (1) or (2) prevents a driver from stopping his or her vehicle and not passing the stopped emergency vehicle if stopping can be done in safety and is not otherwise prohibited by law. 2002, c. 21, s. 1.

Offence

(4) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable,(a) for a first offence, to a fine of not less than $400 and not more than $2,000; and(b) for each subsequent offence, to a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $4,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both. 2002, c. 21, s. 1.

Time limit for subsequent offence

(5) An offence referred to in subsection (4) committed more than five years after a previous conviction for an offence referred to in subsection (4) is not a subsequent offence for the purpose of clause (4) (b). 2002, c. 21, s. 1

Bureaucracy At Its finest

THE DAM

This is an actual letter sent to a man named Ryan DeVries regarding a pond on his property. It was sent by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Quality, State of Pennsylvania This guy's response is hilarious, but read the State's letter before you get to the response letter.

DEQ File No.97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County

Dear Mr. DeVries:

It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:

Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond.

A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.

The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2006.

Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcementaction..

We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

D Price

District Representative and Water Management Division. avid L.

Here is the actual response sent back by Mr. DeVries:

Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County

Dear Mr. Price,

Your certified letter dated 12/17/02 has been handed to me to respond to. I am the legal landowner but not the Contractor at 2088 Dagget Lane, Trout Run, Pennsylvania.

A couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood 'debris' dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures building materials 'debris.'

I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.

These are the beavers/contractors you are seeking. As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity.

My first dam question to you is:

(1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers, or

(2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request?

If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued.

(Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.)

I have several concerns. My first concern is, aren't the beavers entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation -- so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event, causing flooding, is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling them dam names.

If you want the stream 'restored' to a dam free-flow condition please contact the beavers -- but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English.

In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams).

So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2006? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them.

In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real environmental quality, health, problem in the area. It is the bears! Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! The bears are not careful where they dump!

Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.


THANK YOU,

RYAN DEVRIES & THE DAM BEAVERS

Warning On World Food Shortages

The UN secretary general has warned that millions of people are at risk of starvation as global food stocks have fallen to their lowest levels for decades.

In a letter to a US newspaper Ban Ki Moon warned that shortages are forcing prices to rise which may have devastating consequences for the world's most vulnerable communities
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The most acute effects have been seen in Egypt, where thousands of people have resorted to violence due to shortages of basic food commodities and rising food prices.

At least 10 people have died over the past two weeks, in riots that erupted at government subsidised bakeries.
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The unavailability of basic food products such as bread,.....

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/958CC5D2-638C-428E-AF84-91041B355EF0.htm

More Than The Dough Is Rising

Having owned a bakery for a number of years, I can understand the plight of these guys.

Flour Power Sends Bread Prices Rising

Higher wheat costs will take larger slice out of wallets

Calgarians will soon fork over more dough to buy a loaf of bread as several local bakeries prepare to boost their prices in the face of punishing cost increases.

With soaring global grain prices, bakers have seen their flour expenses grow significantly in the past year.

Wheat contracts hit an all-time high of $25 a bushel on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, while futures hit $12.15 on the Chicago Board of Trade on Monday.

The situation has led some bakeries to boost the price for their baked goods and stores like Rustic Sour Dough Bakery said Monday they will charge more for bread beginning in late March.

The 17th Avenue bakery's flour costs have more than doubled since last summer, from about $8.60 for a 20-kilogram bag of unbleached white flour to $17.40 per bag today.

"It looks like I will have to bring in an increase," said Jos Rehli, owner of Rustic Sour Dough, who said the increase in white flour alone is costing .....

http://www.canada.com:80/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=876ff8c8-d5d0-4462-8b1c-9d1b82917e51&k=79901

With Age Comes Wisdom

A guy is 65 years old and loves to fish.

He was sitting in his boat the other day when he heard a voice say, "Pick me up."
He looked around and couln't see anyone. He thought he was dreaming when he heard the voice say again, "Pick me up".

He looked in the water and there, floating on the top, was a frog. The man said "Are you talking to me?" The frog said, "Yes, I'm talking to you. Pick me up. Then, kiss me and I'll turn into the most beautiful woman you have ever seen. I'll then give you more sexual pleasure that you ever could have dreamed of."

The man looked at the frog for a short time, reached over, picked it up carefully, and placed it in his front breast pocket. Then, the frog said, "What, are you nuts? Didn't you hear what I said? I said kiss me and I will give you sexual pleasures like you have never had."

He opened his pocket, looked at the frog and said, "Nah, at my age I'd rather have a talking frog."

Product Labels

You know how books have a table of contents that explains what's inside?
Nutrition labels are sort of like that. They tell you what's inside the food you're eating and list its smaller parts

Food labels were regulated in 1994. Before then, food companies could print their products’ nutritional information basically anywhere they wanted to (and often in really small print).

Deciphering food labels is tricky business. They're filled with lots of multi-syllabic words that border on being impossible to pronounce, chemicals that sound like they could kill you just by touching them and ... much, much worse.

The fact is that they can be misleading.

The nutrition facts label on your favorite breakfast cereal tells you it's full of vitamins and minerals. So it must be healthy, right?
But what if it's also loaded with sugar?

Do you often see labels on foods that say things like "fat-free," "reduced calorie," or "light?"
It's important to remember that fat-free doesn't mean calorie free. People tend to think they can eat as much as they want of fat-free foods.

Fat-free or low-fat foods may contain high amounts of added sugars or sodium to make up for the loss of flavor when fat is removed.

Get the inside facts when you read the label. Reading labels helps you buy products that fit your budget and the amount needed for your family.
It can help you find foods low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium.
Also, be sure to read labels for information about calorie, sugar, fiber, protein content etc.

The most important thing is to become familiar with ingredients by consistently reading labels. You will begin to recognize common ingredients and when there is a questionable one, you can research it (which is fairly easy to do on the internet) to determine if it is safe.

S.H.I.T.

Manure...A True Story.
.
Manure: In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship and it was also before commercial fertilizer's invention, so large shipments of manure were common.

It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet, but once water (at sea) hit it, it not only became heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a by product is methane gas As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what could (and did) happen. Methane began to build up below decks and the first time someone came below at night with a lantern, BOOOOM!
Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined just what was happening.

After that, the bundles of manure were always stamped with the term "Ship High In Transit" on them, which meant for the sailors to stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any water that came into the hold would not touch this volatile cargo and start the production of methane.

Thus evolved the term " S.H.I.T " , (Ship High In Transport) which has come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.
You probably did not know the true history of this word.

Neither did I.

Too Much Homework ?

Homework is an accepted part of children’s coursework, starting as early as first grade. But how much is too much?

Homework -- the traditional bane of a school-age child's existence -- is once again coming under fire. Some influential researchers say homework does little to improve a student's academic abilities. Others believe homework is excessive, and doing more harm than good.

The National PTA suggests children in kindergarten through second grade receive 10-20 minutes of homework each night. In grades three through six, that recommended amount increases to 30-60 minutes nightly. In middle and high school, the amount depends on the number and level of difficulty of classes a student takes.

At the turn of the century, homework was actually outlawed in some areas because it was considered child labor. The theory was to simply let kids be kids. But Sputnik and the space race changed everything. Almost overnight, educators were scrambling to fill the "education gap" with the Soviet Union.

Nine-year-old Andrew has so much homework that his stepmother, a teacher herself, says, “at times it is overwhelming.” Every day, including weekends, the fourth grader has at least 1½ hours of work to do. Some days it takes him two hours or more to finish up. Not surprisingly, this workload has dampened his enthusiasm for school.

A retired school teacher is spreading a message most students would agree with – kids in Alberta have too much homework.
“There’s huge amount of stress on families. And I see homework as the icing on the family stress cake,” said Vera Goodman, a Calgary-based author with more than 30 years of teaching behind her.

Some teachers sometimes overdo the work load. All factors need to be considered and sometimes teachers forget to do that.

And for every parent who thinks there's too much homework, however, there is another who feels her child needs more.

World: Europe Women In Jeans 'Cannot Be Raped'

Italy's highest court has ruled that a woman wearing jeans cannot be raped.


The Supreme Court of Appeal in Rome on Wednesday overturned a rape conviction, saying that the supposed victim must have agreed to sex because her jeans could not have been removed without her consent.

A court in the southern town of Potenza had convicted a driving instructor of raping his 18-year-old pupil.

The instructor, aged 45 and identified only as Carmine, had been sentenced to 34 months' jail.

His defence had argued that the young woman - identified as Rosa - had consented to sex, a version of events which the woman strongly denied.

The Supreme Court ruled that it was impossible .....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/277263.stm

Revealed At Last: Scotland Yard's Jack the Ripper Case Book

'PC.97J. NEIL reports at 3.45.a[m] 31st inst, he found the dead body of a woman lying on her back with her clothes a little above her knees...' So begins a vivid account on lined notepaper, by a Superintendent J Keating, under the heading 'Metropolitan Police'. The ink seems as fresh as a morning newspaper. Yet it is dated 31 August, 1888.

This is one of the police reports filed just hours after Jack the Ripper claimed another victim in London's East End. It is one of numerous documents relating to the Victorian killer which, after more than a century in the archives, are to go on public display for the first time.

Handwritten accounts from the scenes of the crimes, detectives' case reports, coroners' inquiry records, witness statements, photographs and letters will form the centrepiece of a major exhibition, 'Jack the Ripper and the East End', at the Museum in Docklands, London. Visitors will not be spared graphic descriptions, such as 'her throat cut from ear to ear', in the retelling of the bloody and gruesome crimes.

'They are absolutely ........

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/mar/09/ukcrime

How Bluetooth Got Its Name

In 1996 a number of companies were looking to standardize the industry around a short-range radio link for doing a number of things which seem obvious today (not so obvious in 1996).

Within Intel, I had started a program called Business-RF; Ericsson had a program called MC-Link; Nokia had a program called Low Power RF. At the time we were in discussions to figure out the best way to drive a single wireless standard in the industry in order to prevent fragmentation of technologies in this area (remember that in 1996 nothing existed).

As we would approach different companies to talk about what short range wireless technologies could do and how having a single short-range standard would be so much better than having three or more competing and fragmenting standards, it became apparent the need to have a single name; as Intel would talk to people about "Biz-RF," Ericsson about "MC-Link" and Nokia about "Low Power-RF," which also created confusion.

In December of 1996 we figured we had the right mixture of companies to be successful in driving the technology through a Special Interest Group (SIG) and met in Lund, Sweden at the Ericsson plant to get final agreement on forming the SIG.

At this time, Intel proposed.....

http://www.eetimes.eu/scandinavia/206902019?cid=RSSfeed_eetimesEU_scandinavia

How Doctors Tell Patients They're Dying

Telling patients they're going to die is less dramatic than one might think, and contrary to popular belief, most doctors refuse to estimate how many weeks or months patients have left to live.

While initial reports of Patrick Swayze's pancreatic cancer diagnosis came with predictions that the star would have only five weeks to live, the actor's doctor quickly released a statement refuting the rumors.

"Patrick has a very limited amount of disease, and he appears to be responding well to treatment thus far," Dr. George Fisher, Swayze's physician, said in the statement. "All the reports stating the time frame of his prognosis and his physical side effects are absolutely untrue. We are considerably more optimistic

Putting a time stamp on someone's life, several doctors told ABCNEWS.com, is something that few doctors are willing to do. Instead, they employ much more methodical and caring techniques of breaking the news to terminally ill patients.

"It's not [a doctor's] job......

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/story?id=4402744&page=1

The Sky Is Falling

Or at least a part of it. I am refering to the spy satellite that the americans are losing. They didn't get much use out of that. Only sent it up about a year or so ago. Now it will be target practice for the navy. But remember, this is not a movie. In real life, you can actually miss. I wonder how many shots they get at it.
Ranting on, the question is why do hey want to shoot it down. Is it because they want to prevent toxic fuel from falling to earth as they say. Or is there something on it that they don't want anyone to see. Then again it could be a practice run for the missile defence system. So it would be just a drone.
My son has given me another possibility. It could be a meteor. They don't want to tell us because of people freaking out. That would be something you might have to take more that one shot at. They also want the space shuttle down before they do this. Shooting a big rock would cause a lot of debris.
So we may find out the truth or we may not.

Which Flag
They sure have a lot of trouble with people sneaking across the border at Mexico. Sound like an easy spot for a terrorist to come across. And there is only so much you can do. Only a matter of time before North America is one country. I'm sure that is already in the planning. It started with free trade. Look at Europe. They are well on the way.

Who Would Have Guessed
I was thinking the other day about when I was in the air force in Germany. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought about NATO having a meeting in Lithuania. They were all the sworn enemy. And MacDonalds in Russia and China. They would have carted me away.
You never know how things are going to turn out.

Onward

So onward we go thru winter. On tuesday we had a good size snowstorm and in the evening and overnight we had a major rainstorm. High winds etc. So by morning, the foot of snow we had was all gone. If we didn't have all these rainstorms, we would have a lot of snow. In a couple more months, I will be thinking of grass cutting.
This year's project will be new doors. Front, back and patio. First I will have to get the lowdown. So I will be going to the place where I bought the windows and get all my info. May not buy it there because I want to buy with installation included.
Had to go for a Cat Scan yesterday. Not that there is a problem. At least I don't think so. Had one a couple of years ago and they saw something they like to wonder about. Now that I am in the medical syatem clutches, they will never let me go. But I guess that is a good thing. I'm glad we have universal health care. That's one reason I would not want to live in the U.S. But it is a nice place to visit. Would love to spend my winters in Sedona.

Birthday

Friday was my 65 th. birthday. It was the best birthday I ever had. My wife and son took me to a restaurant and a surprise party. Really had a great time. Stayed there for a couple of hours. Then everyone came back to our house to continue on. On Sat. I was so tired, I couldn't do anything. Had lots of e-mails from relatives. I'm the oldest of this clan. Hard to believe that at 65 I'm the oldest. Hoping to be the oldest for a long time.
So now I am officially an old person. Next month I start getting my old age pension. That will be $500.00 a month.
Last Mon. took my daughter to the hospital for that checkup. And it would have to be the coldest day this winter. Windchill was -24C -11F. The front of the hospital is just like a wind tunnel.
On Tues. my wife went with a friend looking for a new dryer. Found one at the Sears clearance center in Halifax. Cost $259.00 instead of $359.00. Had a bump in one corner. Went on Thur. to pick it up. Great to have a van when you have to haul something. Dryer works great.
Sunday to-day and very cold. Work on my e-bay store today. Have to wrap some ads to send out. One is going to Italy. An ad for a 1960 Olds. Most of my customers are in the U.S.
I'm surprised at the weather in California. Worse than here.

Snow Again

That's how it is, snow or rain. Last week was a nice week. We got rid of most of the snow. Today it is snowing like a bugger. Now I can start making a new snowpile on rhe side of the driveway. The other disappeared. And that's a good thing. Usually they get higher and higher and stay till March. So later I will be with my shovel. Then I won't have to do my walk, which would be on the threadmill. I don't like using the treadmill. Rather walking outside. But at this time of year I could break an arm or somethng. And its too cold.
My wife has a new project. She needs a new dryer. She had stuff in for 40 min. and it still wasn't completely dry. Took it apart. Bad elements. I'm not going to fix it. Want one that is more energy effecient. Do you know what the elements look like in one of those things ? A giant toaster. Imagine having about ten toasters on any lenght of time.
Speaking of toasters, mine is about 40 yrs. old now. It was bought at the PX in Germany as a wedding gift. Fourty years next month. I replace the cord on the toaster a couple of times and that's it. GE and made in the U.S.A. Not Mexico or anywhere else. So I have to thank GE and the american worker for that.
And speaking of americans, on and on with their election. I like our way better. Not critizing their way. Every country has their own. And that suits them. When they they make a mistake, I can sit back and say that I would have never voted for him or her. In Canada, two months of campaigning and then we vote. Something like that.
I'm glad I went to church last night. Don't have to drive in this today. Tomorrow I have to take my daughter to the doctor. That's a half hr. drive to Halifax. Supposed to be very cold tomorrow. Bad time for wheelchairs. Oh well, that's the way it goes. For her it will be a big adventure since she rarely gets out in the winter.

Rain Again

Well it did rain again. But not enough to get rid of the snow. The snowplow must like my side of the road. He did it three times yesterday. I figured he must be finished by then so I shovelled the driveway. But he snuck back later on and I didn't hear him. The pile that my neighbour makes gets put in my driveway. So now I have a small wall of frozen ice chunks. Bad for the tires. One year I drove over that and one tire was sliced along the side. So, new tire. I have to get rid of that ice today because we are supposed to get another storm to-night.

My son is gone to a levee to-day. It is for the 25 th anniversary of the internet. He was one of the first four people to be on the internet in Nova Scotia. He was 12 years old. Sure knows his way around a computer. And of course it is his job now. I had my first computer course in 1964. And they were a lot larger then. That computer would now be in one chip. A small chip.

I bought my son's first computer when he was 9 yrs. old. It was a Sinclair and it looks like today's laptop. I paid $100.00 and I bought it in Nashua, NH. He still has it with all the upgrades. I found an old ad of that computer, so I framed it and put it on his office wall.

I will ad a picture of my enlarged snowpile and then go and chop ice.

And Snow Again

Since my last post, it has been either rain or snow. From the photo I am adding, you can see that the snowbank on the side is a little larger. It would have been a lot larger, except for the rain. One day snow, the next day rain. The photo is from Sat. when it snowed. On Sun. it rained. And today it is snowing big time.

I had a Planter's Wart on my foot. So I figured that the next time I go to the doctor, I will get him to cut it out. Then someone told me to put duct tape on it. I guess this is something everyone knows except me. Had that on for about a month and good-bye wart. Amazing eh? Another use for duct tape.

With Christmas dinner and giving extra turkey to my single brother and one of the neighbours, I only had one turkey sandwich. Eating the turkey is usually a three day effort.

Have not been walking lately. This is not good. And with that snow, there won't be any today.

I have to go to the Post Office , so I should do it now before it gets too hard to drive.

Happy New Year!!

From Nova Scotia

Snow

Well we had a snow storm yesterday. About 6". I didn't bother shoveling the driveway because it was supposed to turn to rain after midnight, rain all night and most of the day. It is 08:00 and as I look out the window, all I see is snow falling. The snowplow went thru during the night leaving me a mound at the end of the driveway. Since it was wet snow, it is now probably frozen.

My neighbour across the street has a property that is about 4' below the property behind her. So when it rains, she gets all the water. That gives her a water problem in the basement. A couple of weeks ago, she had a trench dug between her house and the next door neighbour. This is so all the water can flow out to the sewer. So this week she brought in topsoil and sods to cover the trench. A truck came and dumped a ton of topsoil on her lawn and two pallets of sods. She only required a small amt. of topsoil for the trench. So there was a lot of soil left that she had to get off the lawn. Another neighbour and myself could take as much as we wanted. She wanted that dirt gone. My wife, my son and I must have hauled about 100 wheelbarrows full. When I was finished, my hands were so sore, I couldn't make a fist. I put it all at the back of my yard, because it gets wet there in the spring. The next day my neighbour gave me all the sods that were left, which was about a pallet and a half. Covered the topsoil. Have to wait till spring to straighten it all out.

Got all the leaves raked up. Took five more bags.

Had to fix two light sockets in two ceiling fans yesterday. Both are about the same age. Programed to fail. My wife said that we are lucky I can do that. An electrician would have cost probably $100.00. A fringe benefit from my Air Force training.

Still snowing out. Big time now. A good day to work on my ebay store. I have Canadian Tire money to put in. People do collect it. You wouldn't have to buy a lot to keep it up. Not like stamps.

I decided to take a picture of my snow. Now you can see it. I should have waited for the picture. Now we have a real blizzard out there.