Bob And Susan

I could have put on my skates and skated down this highway……it’s a highway!!! Runs from Nelson to Castlegar…..

OK, here’s a picture I took 3 hours after I got home after I decided there were too many cars that are crashing and I wasn’t going to see Zachary. This is as bad as a road can get. We have no problem driving here on snowy roads, we get tons of snow every year, but neglecting the highways when there is freezing rain is inexcusable, dangerous , and as a taxpayer who relies on the Government to take care of these simple tasks of putting down salt and sand under these conditions I’m disgusted. Shame on the highways department for being so irresponsible at your work. Today, as I write this on the day after, the roads are now wet, having been finally taken care of. Too little, too late. I wonder how much damage was done from their ineptitude?

So, today Susan and I worked a half day and we were ready to  go see Zach, leaving at noon. We were so excited, he’s but two weeks old. We were going to go last week, giving Lindsay & Jeff the respectful first week to figure stuff out, but I felt it better to give them more time after ” The Zack Attack” ( so named by Uncle Buck)  came in to this world with more enthusiasm than expected.  On my way home today it started to rain and snow, -2 at the time. I have a 35 minute drive normally, it’s a bit of a way as it’s all highway in these mountains so I’m going quite a way, we have no traffic except for the tourists in the summer. I saw people who were in the ditches and over the banks, fortunately all soft landings. What I didn’t see was any salt/sand trucks. We can drive on snow easily, and snow all the way to Kelowna was  fine, but freezing rain was not. The government privatized our highway maintenance system years ago. Salt costs money, and a private contractor will use it sparingly for the bottom line….makes sense really. It’s about the bottom line.  Who gives a hoot about people like me. The government doesn’t care here in B.C. about anything more than their individual  images and legacies. Hell,  how many premiers have we had who were kicked out or quit in the last years? Crazy.  And for all this nonsense I get to pay taxes. I pay lots in taxes just like everyone, but we get so few government services because we choose to live  in the forest. Having a well maintained highway is of importance to me.  I have for years put up with driving in terrible conditions, just dealt with it and showed up late to work…..today, I don’t  feel the same way. I am not going to see my newborn Grandson because the Government of B.C. are inept at running a business. It’s really that simple. We need to get business people involved in government, but good business people will not go there. What a dilemma we have. What person who loves making money would go to a field where they earn less? We’re buggered. A simple hope that our roads are safe to drive on should not ever be a problem.  Incompetent administration of the People’s money should be the most important value we value when considering our votes.

I have tried to be polite here but you need to know I’m very sad that I can’t be with the kids today as expected. I don’t sweat the small stuff and that’s what this may be, but I do think venting by writing is also very therapeutic. Nothing on my chest now……see you soon Zachary.

Love Grampa

So, who could believe that this year I would have 2 grandchildren. As Susan blogged we now have Zach in our lives. Jeff and Lindsay are doing great 9 days later as I write this. Zach beat up Lindsay pretty good in the process, and Lindsay has made a remarkable recovery. Zach took a few hits too and was pretty banged up himself but now looks beautiful as does his Mother. Jeff was their “everything you could ever hope for Father” and his tireless care and compassion helped  to bring a quicker resolve to their health.  Susan and I love and like Jeff, his actions come as no surprise to us but I thought others should know.

Now, a lot of people saw the picture from Zach that he sent on my birthday last Thursday which also happened to be  his one week birthday.  People have a tendency to think I’m a gloating grandfather (Ava) and I’m going to try and show that I’m really not. Case in point, while running around work on my birthday with  the picture  in hand  many people were impressed that my Grandson could write after only being one week old.  They would smirk at me when they said it based mostly on being skeptical about the past accomplishments I’ve mentioned about Ava. Well those skeptical fools are really the fools. Who in their right mind would thing Zack could write being only one week old?   If you look closely the writing was done by Lindsay and Jeff. The greeting was printed, not written…..Jeesh! Please don’t approach me with asking how his Math is going, think Arithmetic for goodness sakes, he’s just 9 days old.

Love Bob

Haven’t blogged for some time and now that it’s snowing, the truck/plow and chains are ready, I have a bit more time for this. To warm up I’d like to say that I just celebrated another birthday which Susan once again, as is tradition, made me meatloaf , gravy, cream corn, and potatoes. This is my favourite meal. Today I made a meatloaf sandwich, on a kaiser with mustard. Afterwords, I decided that this was the best sandwich of all times. A significant announcement you must think. While I have a love of pastrami, Montreal smoked meat, and corn beef of course, I’ve decided to rate it above my own personal classic. It was a tough decision, and I feel bad for my creation, but it’s made. By the way, the classic was baloney, peanut butter and green pepper on caraway rye. The burst of the green pepper followed by the blending of the peanut butter and baloney make for a dining experience you’ll never forget. A beer is essential to the experience or it won’t go down, rather, it’ll just clog up in your throat and you’re liable to choke to death. (my disclaimer for liable). While it seems an odd combination, anyone who likes all 3 items should enjoy it. The blending of good foods is critical to being able to enjoy the meal and not worry about Brussels sprouts or broccoli throwing you off. I guess that’s why my birthday meal works so well.
You’re welcome….

Hi,

I haven’t blogged for a very long time . . . basic laziness!

We now have a new member in our family . . . Zachary Mason Sills (7 lbs/10 oz).  Lindsay gave birth to Zach at 4:25 p.m. November 10th.  I can hardly wait to meet Zach but in the mean time we will just have to be patient while Lindsay heels and the new parents, Jeff and Lindsay, bond with Zach.  I keep checking their blog for a photo but none yet.  A new cousin for Ava, a new niece for Rheanna, a second great grand child for Bob’s parents, and a beautiful grandson for Bob and myself!

So I have been back to Toronto twice in the last 3 months.  The first time in late August for my father’s 80th birthday and then the second time in mid-October for my mom’s 75th birthday.  I had a great time both visits.  The first visit I was there for over 10 days so I got to spend time with a lot of people.

I saw my friends, Patty and Graham Burton.  Patty and I have been friends since grade 4 at Heather Heights and we have always had a close relationship.  I believe that Graham went to Heather Heights as well but we didn’t really get to know each other until Graham and Patty hooked up, got married and had three wonderful children, Colin, Danny and Rachel who is their youngest and off to University next year.

I got a good visit in with my friend, Judi whom I also met at Heather Heights when I was in grade 4 and she was in grade 5.  We have done lots together over the years.  Judi has a son, Dylan, who is in his twenties and a fine young man.

I saw good friends Bob and Jean Black.  Bob and Jean also became grand parents this past March to Greyson, their daughter, Kierra’s and her husband, Mike”s son.  I got to meet Greyson when I went over to the Black’s for a very delicious brunch.  Jean also went to Heather Heights but we didn’t become friends until we were in our 20s but knew of each.  I met Bob Black when I was a teenager.  My Bob and Bob Black grew up together from a very early age.

I got a good visit in with my sister, Judy, too.  We went to see “Eat, Pray, Love” and then back to her apartment and just chatted for the rest of the evening.

The second visit was a short but a great quality visit.  Since I was only there for four days I didn’t phone a soul.  I just hung out with my parents and enjoyed every moment of it.  We went on an excursion one of the days and saw all of my dad’s childhood homes and all of my  mom’s childhood homes (they both came from an area called “The Beaches” in Toronto), and all of the homes they shared right up to the condo they live in at this time in Pickering.

In mid-August my friends, Cathy and Diane (we all met as very young teenagers) and Bob and I met at Lindsay’s and Jeff’s home in Kelowna.  Thank you Lindsay and Jeff for welcoming my friends into your home.  It was a short but lovely visit.  On the very hot Saturday we all went to the beach.  Albert (Cathy’s wonderful partner) and Cathy had their boat with them ~ well we did lots of fun water/boat stuff.  Rheanna and Ava were able to come to Kelowna on that visit as well.  Rheanna and Ava had been staying with us for a wee visit  before we went to Kelowna.

I know this all sounds so dry but it has been such a long time since I have blogged that I am pretty rusty right now.  I will try to blog more often with much more humour.