Weekly Musings of the 17th

Wow, that week was different.  You know when you think your week is going to go one way, and off it goes in another direction?  Sunday as dishes were finished we found the sink would not drain.  Completely plugged, so we bailed it out and waited until Monday morning to call the Super.  The plumber couldn't come that day but would come as soon as possible.  We made do and then Tuesday the Super called and said a plumber would be out that day but they would be coming from Toronto (100 km away!?!?!?) Turns out he drove from Barrie (even further away).

Poor guy thought it was going to be a simple unstopping the drain.  Nope, the further he went the worse it got until under our sink looked like this. 

More and more pipe had to be replaced and more clearing of the pipe and the stench was the most awful.  DD and I wore masks and I put Vicks under my nose.  I don't know how the plumber could stand it.  Hubby who had been a medic said that a morgue smelled better.  I just kept praying that it could be fixed.  

The plumber did not give up and did get that mess cleaned up.  We were so impressed by this guy and thanked him over and over for getting this mess unstopped.  

 I remarked to DD that we have an electrician in the family and a carpenter but I think we need someone to step up and become a plumber, maybe one of the grandkids. 

Back to normal and the next day we did our house-cleaning in order to clear the apartment of any lingering stench.  We did lose a shelf in the cupboard from all the mess but hubby is going to see what he can do about that.  He makes really great little shelves around the apartment.  

Hubby got really busy on his writing and I thought about it and figured we should divide the week somehow in order for us both to get stuff out there.  I made a bit of a day schedule, not carved in stone but one to base the week on.   Hubby's writing will be posted Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday and I will post Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.  I figure I will take just three days as I have been posting quite awhile and hubby has a bit more to say for now.  At least that is how we shall go along for now.  

I also started updating my recipe book, it had a few recipes to be added and some tweeking of the pages which looks much better.  Also found an old recipe that had disappeared from the book but was a favourite of DD the 1st and one she really wanted me to make again.  The collection is looking much fresher once more.  

So, that was the week that went off in a different direction due to plumbing but all turned out okay.  Have a great weekend my friends.

 

Books - The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael

 

Now this series is another favourite but it is one that you cannot read quickly.  There is a lot more depth to it.  The TV series is very well done but the books are worth the read.  They are more expensive than most but they are available at the library and need not be read in order if you can't.  

Ellis Peters is the pen name of Edith Mary Pargeter, a very well published English author.  Give her a google if you wish to check out her bio.

'A Welsh Benedictine monk living at Shrewsbury Abbey in western England, Brother Cadfael spends much of his time tending the herbs and vegetables in the garden—but now there’s a more pressing matter. Cadfael is to serve as translator for a group of monks heading to the town of Gwytherin in Wales. The team’s goal is to collect the holy remains of Saint Winifred, which Prior Robert hopes will boost the abbey’s reputation, as well as his own. But when the monks arrive in Gwytherin, the town is divided over the request.

When the leading opponent to disturbing the grave is found shot dead with a mysterious arrow, some believe Saint Winifred herself delivered the deadly blow. Brother Cadfael knows an earthly hand did the deed, but his plan to root out a murderer may dig up more than he can handle.

Before CSI and Law & Order, there was Brother Cadfael, “wily veteran of the Crusades” (Los Angeles Times). His knowledge of herbalism, picked up in the Holy Land, and his skillful observance of human nature are blessings in dire situations, and earned Ellis Peters a Crime Writers’ Association Silver Dagger Award. A Morbid Taste for Bones kicks off a long-running and much-loved series that went on to be adapted for stage, radio, and television.'

There are 20 books in the series and it finishes off with 

this one.  

'For Brother Cadfael in the autumn of his life, the mild November of our Lord’s year 1145 may bring a bitter—and deadly—harvest. England is torn between supporters of the Empress Maud and those of her cousin Stephen. The civil strife is about to jeopardize not only Cadfael’s life, but his hopes of Heaven.
 
While Cadfael has sometimes bent the abbey’s rules, he has never broken his monastic vows—until now. Word has come to Shrewsbury of a treacherous act that has left thirty of Maud’s knights imprisoned. All have been ransomed except Cadfael’s secret son, Olivier de Bretagne. Conceived in Cadfael’s soldiering youth and unaware of his father’s identity, Olivier will die if he is not freed. Like never before, Cadfael must boldly defy the abbot. The good brother forsakes the order to follow his heart—but what he finds will challenge his soul.'

Each book is a real treasure of history and mystery.  I really recommend this series whether you spend the extra to buy or get them from the library.  They can be hard to get as the author has past away but so very much worth it.  

Have a great day.

 

State Departments - by Robert

 

I’m afraid I’m going to lop off more departments. No more provinces or territories.  Please don’t even think of dividing Canada into several countries. Again, I’m thinking of poor Texas becoming the third largest state.

We have the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police), la Surete du Quebec (Quebec Provincial Police) and the RCMP  (Royal Canadian Mounted Police for all the other provinces and territories.  I propose we transfer all of them under one state police department.  I would suggest they  be called either the Canadian Rangers, or Marshalls.  You must keep the stetson hat, red serge tunic, yellow striped riding pants and perhaps just to please me (you already guessed) seal skin

cowboy boots and spurs.  There may be one or two wearing a turban.  I know PC.  Then again in the future there might be a hijab too, you never know.I suspect we’ll have more cops than we require in the state.  You know I’ve given that some thought.  I was thinking of the FBI, somehow it just doesn’t fit.  You can forget the CIA, they seem to have a bad rep on NCIS, you know the TV show and nearly any other show as well.  NSA and all the other undercover agencies just won’t do, after all you could see them coming a mile away, in their uniforms.  The perfect post would be the Secret Service.  Okay, I can just hear everyone saying, they won't look secret.  Do you honestly believe that the guys wearing the same dark suit, the ear bud with the wire attached dangling down the back of the ear, along the neck, under the jacket and sleeve can’t be seen.  Not to mention the secret service pin on the lapels of their jackets.  I still have one of

those pins somewhere.  The nice agent handed me one, when I worked in security at External Affairs.  (Oops sorry!)  Don’t worry buddy, it was so long ago, I don’t even remember what you look like. As for your name, man, sometimes I have to look at my license to make sure who I am.  There is another plus, they can quickly jump on their horses and run whoever tries something. After all, they always catch their man. (I know, it’s to serve and protect).

As for buildings, I think that Parliament Hill should be vacated. Let’s face the only reason Ottawa was chosen, it was far enough from the border. They didn’t want it to be set on fire, say like the White House. Alright all you historians, it was the British that came down from Canada. I just realized, we have a long history of terrorists going from Canada to the States It’s a wonder you want us to join Mr. President elect. (Sorry!) What to do with the buildings you may ask, I’m ahead of there. Give the hill back to the natives. I can just imagine the grand opening of the new Casino/Hotel complex. Wow! Look out Reno and Vegas, you ain't seen nothing yet.

I would recommend Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver as the new state capital. They

all have covered stadiums.  Maybe Vancouver, the stadium is newer and it did have the Winter Olympics. (Just a side note; why is it when you add an s to the word roof it sounds like you’ve replaced the f for a v.  Maybe it’s just a local thing, or just my hearing.)  I have a plan for the stadium. You’ll just have to wait.  Here’s the plus side, Ottawa can now be free of demonstrations.  Even some demonstrations have a plus Mr. President elect, they bring their own hot tubs and playgrounds. The music at night tends to be loud, but you can dance to it.  Ottawa can go back to what it was like in the 50’s.  The sidewalks roll up at 5PM and nothing really gets going before 9AM.  The exception would be the Casino, of course.  Besides, you can drink till two AM in Gatineau just across the river.

Man there are so many things that must happen before the gala that we’ll have once congress accepts us as a state.

Political parties are in abundance here.  Let’s start with the Conservatives (like the republicans).  Their motto, no more spending.  Next the liberals (democrates) spend and make everyone happy.  Let’s not forget  the NDP, spend even more.  The Green party, I might even vote for them as long as they not just promise, but actually bring the price of organic fruits and vegetables on par with non organic. The Bloc Quebecois now that crew will give you a real hard time.  Remember there is no deal, unless Canadien (you know Franglais and Joual) is honoured.  I know you only have four years,  but if you want your wish to come true, there is a lot of give on your part to take.

I keep thinking ahead, when your 4 years are done, there are candidates I can only dream of taking your place.  Unfortunately, some of the people I’m thinking of are long gone.  Rene Levesque instance.  What an orator.  I can still see him, sitting at the table like a desk, cigarette in hand, occasionally taking puffs between sentences.  He really convinced me, I was not a second class person because I was Canadien. I was really tempted to vote for him, but I still want Quebec to stay and not separate.  Then there was Justin’s papa.  If he lived now, he would have kicked your ass.  There is no way you could out-talk him.  He hit the political stage like a hurricane.  Perhaps you remember Trudeau mania, the man had the women in the palm of his hand.  He gave my mother-in-law shivers .  I’m talking about the

good kind.  He had a great catch phrase.  Who could forget the response for the reporters who insisted he could not institute the war measures act.  “Watch me.”  Then there was fuddle duddle.  Ok it was fuck..  It almost became the battle cry of both Canadiens and Canadians.  We even have song, you can find the song  by Gerry Morgan,on Spotify.

Speaking of the word fuck, I noticed  it’s become more popular over the years.  It’s become used more by the Canadiens.  Now let’s not mistake it for the word phoque, which sounds like fuck but means seal.  I knew I could get my seal skin boots in this.  I have an nephew who can actually use the word fuck, as a noun, verb and adjective, all in the same sentence. A little hard to follow at times, but he somehow gets the message across.

Another thing.  Hopefully I can find someone, I’ve got rid of from whatever agency, can come over and fix this autocorrect on the computer to Franglais.

Chat with you later.

Bobby