Hi.
As always, it is late. But I don't have to go to work in the morning. It will be Canada Day in less than 90 minutes. I think I will lay back in my recliner and read my kindle for a while, maybe even a long while. The Jack Reacher novel I've been reading for some time is really starting to pick up, and I want to see where it goes.
Tomorrow we may do some CD things, but more than likely we will likely stay close to home. I have a middle bedroom I want to clean out, although it pains me to throw things out that people may find useful.
Do you know anyone who wants some back issues of The Linking Ring, the official publication of The International Brotherhood of Magicians? I was in IBM in the mid 1990's until my interest petered out. I mean, I liked magic, but I am left-handed, and all too many of the books that explain how effects are done are geared for right-handed people, so they're close to useless to me. Mentalism was more fun, but once again, unless you are so passionate about it that you want to practice this more than you want to do nearly anything else in this world, then there is no point in proceeding. There are lots of wanna-be's out there. Why be another?
Anyway, I have other things to bundle up and put in a recycyling bag on the morrow. I have some boxes to break down and lash together. And I am interested in seeing how much of that stuff I can get through in one short day.
You guys have a good evening. I will tell you about my progress Wednesday night.
Bevboy
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Monday, June 29, 2015
Post 2991 - Bevboy Contest!!
Long day. Turning in shortly. Like I say I will every night.
Not sure why, but I was bushed by the end of my work day. We ended up going to Costco, where one has no choice but to buy 5 of any particular item. We got home at 7. I fell asleep in front of my tv, which only further solidifies the impression I have that I am rapidly becoming my father. How long will it be before I yell at the kids to get off my lawn?
Newbie was awaiting us, so I fed him before I retired to my recliner. After he ate, he jumped on top of me, kneaded my flesh until it was tender enough for him to plop on, which means I was screaming at the top of my lungs as he pierced my epidermal layer, and then he plopped on me. Within a few minutes, we were both asleep.
Finally ate dinner around 9:15. Now, an hour+ later, he rests next to me at this computer desk, anxiously waiting for me to turn in for the evening.
This blog will soon hit post #3000. I want to do something different, or rather, to revisit something I have done a couple of times before. I want to do ... "the alphabet game".
As you long-time readers may recall, it is when I get one of my 4.7 readers to suggest a topic. Another reader suggests a letter of the alphabet. Then, I tell a story about that topic, using sentences starting with successive letters of the alphabet. So, if you suggested "cement mixing" and "Q", I would start a post whose first sentence started with a word that starts with "Q". Then, the first word of the next sentence would start with "R". And so on, until I have cycled through the alphabet.
We are running out of time. The contest starts now and concludes on July 6th. Send your suggestions to me at this email address, or via replies to this post, or via tweets or by way of comments on my Facebook mentioning this post.
So, a letter, and a subject. I pick the ones I like most and produce magic.
Get to work. Now!
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Not sure why, but I was bushed by the end of my work day. We ended up going to Costco, where one has no choice but to buy 5 of any particular item. We got home at 7. I fell asleep in front of my tv, which only further solidifies the impression I have that I am rapidly becoming my father. How long will it be before I yell at the kids to get off my lawn?
Newbie was awaiting us, so I fed him before I retired to my recliner. After he ate, he jumped on top of me, kneaded my flesh until it was tender enough for him to plop on, which means I was screaming at the top of my lungs as he pierced my epidermal layer, and then he plopped on me. Within a few minutes, we were both asleep.
Finally ate dinner around 9:15. Now, an hour+ later, he rests next to me at this computer desk, anxiously waiting for me to turn in for the evening.
This blog will soon hit post #3000. I want to do something different, or rather, to revisit something I have done a couple of times before. I want to do ... "the alphabet game".
As you long-time readers may recall, it is when I get one of my 4.7 readers to suggest a topic. Another reader suggests a letter of the alphabet. Then, I tell a story about that topic, using sentences starting with successive letters of the alphabet. So, if you suggested "cement mixing" and "Q", I would start a post whose first sentence started with a word that starts with "Q". Then, the first word of the next sentence would start with "R". And so on, until I have cycled through the alphabet.
We are running out of time. The contest starts now and concludes on July 6th. Send your suggestions to me at this email address, or via replies to this post, or via tweets or by way of comments on my Facebook mentioning this post.
So, a letter, and a subject. I pick the ones I like most and produce magic.
Get to work. Now!
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Post 2990 - Sunday
Hi.
Sorry I didn't write on Saturday. The internet connection down in the Valley went away. It never came back no matter how many times I rebooted the router. It was still down this afternoon when I returned to the city.
I got done most of what I had to get done, this weekend. The lawn, which I would have to braid had I not cut it, has been taken care of. I whipper snipped most of the areas that needed it. And I was able to watch some tv shows that had been piling up on a thumb drive, thanks to the media player I keep down there. I had a quiet, restful weekend. I needed it. I deserved it. And now I am hours away from another work week.
Tomorrow morning, around 10 or so, the latest issue of Frank Magazine hits the 'net. My latest column is in there, and I hope that you decide to check it out. My column had so much material this time that I had to hold back a piece for my next column in 2 weeks. Nice to have something to start with.
I guess that is it, ladies and germs. You have a good evening and I will talk at ya tomorrow.
Bevboy
Sorry I didn't write on Saturday. The internet connection down in the Valley went away. It never came back no matter how many times I rebooted the router. It was still down this afternoon when I returned to the city.
I got done most of what I had to get done, this weekend. The lawn, which I would have to braid had I not cut it, has been taken care of. I whipper snipped most of the areas that needed it. And I was able to watch some tv shows that had been piling up on a thumb drive, thanks to the media player I keep down there. I had a quiet, restful weekend. I needed it. I deserved it. And now I am hours away from another work week.
Tomorrow morning, around 10 or so, the latest issue of Frank Magazine hits the 'net. My latest column is in there, and I hope that you decide to check it out. My column had so much material this time that I had to hold back a piece for my next column in 2 weeks. Nice to have something to start with.
I guess that is it, ladies and germs. You have a good evening and I will talk at ya tomorrow.
Bevboy
Friday, June 26, 2015
Post 2989 - Friday
Hi.
I write these words at the family home in the Valley. I got here about 7:45. The lawn was crazy tall, so I spent 30 minutes or so mowing the front part. I will do the rest tomorrow. I am in for the evening.
I've got CBC radio on next to me. They're re-re-rerunning "The Bugle and the Passing Bell", a series about Canada's contribution to World War One. Originally run in 1964, they dusted it off, edited it down to 1 hour episodes, and added some bridging material. Pretty good, but I would love to hear the original series from 50 years ago.
Tonight, they have hinted that they will discuss the final person to be shot and killed in WWI. I know that his name was Lawrence Price. He was a Canadian. And the man who taught me to drive was his great-nephew.
Lawrence was from this area. Fighting overseas on November 11, 1918, minutes before the Armistice, a German shot and killed him. To this day, his grave is tended by the locals. Here. Read about him.
Says that Lawrence was from Church Street. I wonder if the house he grew up in, is still there?
The man who taught me to drive, Frankie Price, once received a mailing from the federal government that was about his great uncle. When Frankie died in 2007, his nephew inherited the property and the documents I just mentioned.
This guy, also named Lawrence, sold the property to a neighbour, who in turn sold it to the man who lives there now. This fellow keeps to himself in a way that would make J.D. Salinger and Steve Ditko take notes.
I guess I will finish listening to this show on the radio and turn in. Lots of mowing tomorrow.
See you then.
Bevboy
I write these words at the family home in the Valley. I got here about 7:45. The lawn was crazy tall, so I spent 30 minutes or so mowing the front part. I will do the rest tomorrow. I am in for the evening.
I've got CBC radio on next to me. They're re-re-rerunning "The Bugle and the Passing Bell", a series about Canada's contribution to World War One. Originally run in 1964, they dusted it off, edited it down to 1 hour episodes, and added some bridging material. Pretty good, but I would love to hear the original series from 50 years ago.
Tonight, they have hinted that they will discuss the final person to be shot and killed in WWI. I know that his name was Lawrence Price. He was a Canadian. And the man who taught me to drive was his great-nephew.
Lawrence was from this area. Fighting overseas on November 11, 1918, minutes before the Armistice, a German shot and killed him. To this day, his grave is tended by the locals. Here. Read about him.
Says that Lawrence was from Church Street. I wonder if the house he grew up in, is still there?
The man who taught me to drive, Frankie Price, once received a mailing from the federal government that was about his great uncle. When Frankie died in 2007, his nephew inherited the property and the documents I just mentioned.
This guy, also named Lawrence, sold the property to a neighbour, who in turn sold it to the man who lives there now. This fellow keeps to himself in a way that would make J.D. Salinger and Steve Ditko take notes.
I guess I will finish listening to this show on the radio and turn in. Lots of mowing tomorrow.
See you then.
Bevboy
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Post 2988 - Sigh
Have spent several hours this evening farting around with my usenet download client. When it works well, it is amazing. When it doesn't, like it hasn't been for the last couple of days, it is a huge pain in the rump roast.
The thing is, I am not sure what I did wrong. The error message pointed to a temporary file. The documentation hinted that it might be a file permissions error, or the fact that the hard drive was full, neither of which was the case.
I ended up re-installing the application, twice.
I think it is working now. Which is nice, because my brain is fried.
Computers? They're supposed to make our lives easier, right?
Right?
Right?
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
The thing is, I am not sure what I did wrong. The error message pointed to a temporary file. The documentation hinted that it might be a file permissions error, or the fact that the hard drive was full, neither of which was the case.
I ended up re-installing the application, twice.
I think it is working now. Which is nice, because my brain is fried.
Computers? They're supposed to make our lives easier, right?
Right?
Right?
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Post 2987 - A Night Out!
Killing some time. Just sent my latest Frank column in to my editor. Patricia's Pilates class runs for another 15 minutes or so.
About an hour ago, we came back from the Company House on Gottingen Street, where we helped Tim Bousquet celebrate the first birthday of The Halifax Examiner. Even if you do not live around here, you can get some good information and wicked commentary from Tim that would make you wish you did live here.
Patricia and I both met Graham Steele. He knew me by my Frank column, and my Bevboy avatar, which he asked me the origin of. He kindly posed for pictures with both of us. He promised to use the phrase "Buzzword Bingo" the next time he discusses the Ivany Report on either CBC radio or television. Let's all actualize holistically, people!!
And I spoke with Tim for a few minutes as well. He looks well, if a bit tired. I think he needs another vacation, toot sweet.
About an hour ago, we came back from the Company House on Gottingen Street, where we helped Tim Bousquet celebrate the first birthday of The Halifax Examiner. Even if you do not live around here, you can get some good information and wicked commentary from Tim that would make you wish you did live here.
Patricia and I both met Graham Steele. He knew me by my Frank column, and my Bevboy avatar, which he asked me the origin of. He kindly posed for pictures with both of us. He promised to use the phrase "Buzzword Bingo" the next time he discusses the Ivany Report on either CBC radio or television. Let's all actualize holistically, people!!
And I spoke with Tim for a few minutes as well. He looks well, if a bit tired. I think he needs another vacation, toot sweet.
All too soon, it was time for us to leave so that Patricia could go to her Pilates class. We both wish we could have stayed a bit longer.
Tim, I hope that the Halifax Examiner has many more years ahead of her.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Post 2986 - A Eureka Evening
Past 11. Turning in soon.
Got home late tonight. Patricia wanted to drive around to some local garden centres to find some seedlings. This evening, while dinner was in the oven, I cleared a path in the middle bedroom to the thing that she uses to nurture those seedlings before they go into the thing in the backyard that the seedlings go into to grow into the vegetables we know and love.
While I was making that room, I found a long-ago published broadsheet magazine, that focused on the local media. Lots of articles about the radio and tv broadcasters of the mid 1990's. Imagine, Ron Kronstein with hair. Steve Murphy, before he got so gray. Don Tremaine, when he was only in his late 60's. I am not sure how many copies of this periodical exists. There can't be very many.
I also found a paperback book I bought in 1995. It is called "Is There Life After High School?" Another book I had long-ago misplaced. It is about some people who had achieved great things, like Henry Kissinger, Ann Margret, Hugh Hefner, and how those building blocks started for them, in high school. Some of these people were popular. Others, like Kissinger, ate their lunch alone every day. Those building blocks were built for him, more than they were by him.
I have thought about this book a great deal over the years. I am delighted that I have re-located it, and look forward to re-reading it.
I have stated it before. I will again, now. Anyone who looks back fondly on high school, or thinks it was more good than bad, has a cock-eyed perspective on things. My 3 years of junior high school at King's County Academy in Kentville, Nova Scotia, were easily the worst 3 years of my life. Nothing has ever come close to that period in terms of misery, of unhappiness, of near despair. My 3 years of senior high at Cornwallis District High were better, but were by no means perfect. They were better only relative to my junior high years. And don't get me started on the teachers. Many of them were sadistic, demented so-and-so's.
I hope you read Ralph Keyes' "Is There Life After High School?". Highest recommendation.
My next Frank column is shaping up nicely. Wrote a draft during my lunch hour and have been polishing it tonight. I have a follow up to a major radio story from 20 years ago. I hope you will like it.
Guess that is it for tonight. See you tomorrow, my friends.
Bevboy
Got home late tonight. Patricia wanted to drive around to some local garden centres to find some seedlings. This evening, while dinner was in the oven, I cleared a path in the middle bedroom to the thing that she uses to nurture those seedlings before they go into the thing in the backyard that the seedlings go into to grow into the vegetables we know and love.
While I was making that room, I found a long-ago published broadsheet magazine, that focused on the local media. Lots of articles about the radio and tv broadcasters of the mid 1990's. Imagine, Ron Kronstein with hair. Steve Murphy, before he got so gray. Don Tremaine, when he was only in his late 60's. I am not sure how many copies of this periodical exists. There can't be very many.
I also found a paperback book I bought in 1995. It is called "Is There Life After High School?" Another book I had long-ago misplaced. It is about some people who had achieved great things, like Henry Kissinger, Ann Margret, Hugh Hefner, and how those building blocks started for them, in high school. Some of these people were popular. Others, like Kissinger, ate their lunch alone every day. Those building blocks were built for him, more than they were by him.
I have thought about this book a great deal over the years. I am delighted that I have re-located it, and look forward to re-reading it.
I have stated it before. I will again, now. Anyone who looks back fondly on high school, or thinks it was more good than bad, has a cock-eyed perspective on things. My 3 years of junior high school at King's County Academy in Kentville, Nova Scotia, were easily the worst 3 years of my life. Nothing has ever come close to that period in terms of misery, of unhappiness, of near despair. My 3 years of senior high at Cornwallis District High were better, but were by no means perfect. They were better only relative to my junior high years. And don't get me started on the teachers. Many of them were sadistic, demented so-and-so's.
I hope you read Ralph Keyes' "Is There Life After High School?". Highest recommendation.
My next Frank column is shaping up nicely. Wrote a draft during my lunch hour and have been polishing it tonight. I have a follow up to a major radio story from 20 years ago. I hope you will like it.
Guess that is it for tonight. See you tomorrow, my friends.
Bevboy
Monday, June 22, 2015
Post 2985 - Monday
Hi.
Past 8:30.
I have written in the past about my dislike for washing dishes. Imagine my surprise when, at the cottage on Sunday afternoon, I washed the dishes. Further imagine my surprise this evening when I washed the dishes that had been piling up here at the house. I know that I missed some. I always do. That is always the way, isn't it?
I have been picking away at my latest Frank column. There is not much radio news this time. All I can say is that if you think that I have heard of your radio-related news item, then you may be wrong. By all means, let me know what you know, you know?
Newbie met us at home this evening. He is always at the door, waiting for us to feed him. For the last several days we have been around to wait on him. Today, we left him alone again, and I do not think he liked it too much.
Big move at work today. Many of the boys I have coffee with are on the other side of the building. I hope they don't forget about me. In case you hadn't noticed, I am very insecure.
Patricia has been sleeping since we got home. I should go check in on her.
You have a good evening. Keep smiling and I will talk to you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Past 8:30.
I have written in the past about my dislike for washing dishes. Imagine my surprise when, at the cottage on Sunday afternoon, I washed the dishes. Further imagine my surprise this evening when I washed the dishes that had been piling up here at the house. I know that I missed some. I always do. That is always the way, isn't it?
I have been picking away at my latest Frank column. There is not much radio news this time. All I can say is that if you think that I have heard of your radio-related news item, then you may be wrong. By all means, let me know what you know, you know?
Newbie met us at home this evening. He is always at the door, waiting for us to feed him. For the last several days we have been around to wait on him. Today, we left him alone again, and I do not think he liked it too much.
Big move at work today. Many of the boys I have coffee with are on the other side of the building. I hope they don't forget about me. In case you hadn't noticed, I am very insecure.
Patricia has been sleeping since we got home. I should go check in on her.
You have a good evening. Keep smiling and I will talk to you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Post 2984 - Sunday
Hi.
Sorry I didn't write the last couple of days. I had spotty-at-best internet coverage, mostly from my smartphone, which is pretty old.
Friday was about getting the new appliances and finding a way to get rid of the old ones. Saturday, we got rid of them, and then drove to Tatamagouche for the Farmer's Market. Turns out that there was a bad person at the farmer's market who drove away other vendors and customers ("if you don't want to pay that much for my tomatoes, grow your own!", he told one elderly woman). We had some coffee and some baked goods and returned to the cottage.
I spent a few hours Saturday afternoon mowing the lawn. I got about 95% of it done; it wasn't until I was nearly out of gas that I called it a day.
Today we lay like broccoli and watched a couple of movies and tv shows. Same thing as last night, watching some episodes of season 10 of "Supernatural". Makes such a difference to be able to watch the show in HD at the cottage. Even a low-end sound bar like the one I keep down there makes a huge difference in the sound quality.
All too soon, dammit, we had to return to the city, so we piled in our cars and drove back, during a near monsoon. We got back here safely, though, and after a shower and having seen the season finale of "Orphan Black" (a tad confusing and disappointing), I am ready to turn in and prepare for another week of work. A busy day there, as well.
Guess I will turn in.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Sorry I didn't write the last couple of days. I had spotty-at-best internet coverage, mostly from my smartphone, which is pretty old.
Friday was about getting the new appliances and finding a way to get rid of the old ones. Saturday, we got rid of them, and then drove to Tatamagouche for the Farmer's Market. Turns out that there was a bad person at the farmer's market who drove away other vendors and customers ("if you don't want to pay that much for my tomatoes, grow your own!", he told one elderly woman). We had some coffee and some baked goods and returned to the cottage.
I spent a few hours Saturday afternoon mowing the lawn. I got about 95% of it done; it wasn't until I was nearly out of gas that I called it a day.
Today we lay like broccoli and watched a couple of movies and tv shows. Same thing as last night, watching some episodes of season 10 of "Supernatural". Makes such a difference to be able to watch the show in HD at the cottage. Even a low-end sound bar like the one I keep down there makes a huge difference in the sound quality.
All too soon, dammit, we had to return to the city, so we piled in our cars and drove back, during a near monsoon. We got back here safely, though, and after a shower and having seen the season finale of "Orphan Black" (a tad confusing and disappointing), I am ready to turn in and prepare for another week of work. A busy day there, as well.
Guess I will turn in.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Post 2983 - Cottage
Here i am at the cottage. Newbie and i drove up here a couple hours ago. Got here around 11pm. After midnight now.
Very long day behind me. Equally long day ahead of me.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Post 2982 - Wednesday
Welcome to Wednesday.
Tonight was to have been a Toastmasters night for me, the last meeting before our annual Summer vacation, which lasts until after Labour Day. However, only 4 people had agreed to attend the meeting, so I threw my hands up and canceled it. Sigh.
This time tomorrow night, so around 10pm, I hope to be at the cottage. There will be a new fridge and stove delivered sometime on Friday. Also, the lawn has to be mowed. And I have to take down there the hdtv I acquired a couple of weeks ago. We only have a crt-based tv down there now, and I refuse to spend another summer down there without some kind of hd television. This one is a 32 inch 1080p thing. I have read the online articles. They all say over and over that 1080p is wasted on a person unless the television is 46 inches or so, and you are situated a few meters away from the thing. And it's Tuesday. Prior to the Spring Equinox. So, this 32 inch tv, having a full 1080p, will likely have its greater picture quality go unnoticed.
720p is the most, most people will ever need, so I wonder how much 4K will catch on with the public. Eastlink Cable broadcasts its HD at 720p, but it is a compressed 720p. It still looks really good.
Anyway, we can get rid of that old television down there this summer. Looking forward to that.
After work this evening, and after dinner, I decided to go for a walk around the neighborhood. There is a park bench a couple of streets over. Duck swim along the river and alight by the bench because they expect humans to give them some food. Next time.
Got back here, farted around with Sonaar, which is acting up again. When it works it works great. When it craps out, it is as frustrating as anything else that doesn't work. I am glad I have a couple of days off coming up.
You guys don't care about my plight, do you? Gee, thanks.
See you tomorrow. I'm a little hurt and need a good cry.
Bevboy
Tonight was to have been a Toastmasters night for me, the last meeting before our annual Summer vacation, which lasts until after Labour Day. However, only 4 people had agreed to attend the meeting, so I threw my hands up and canceled it. Sigh.
This time tomorrow night, so around 10pm, I hope to be at the cottage. There will be a new fridge and stove delivered sometime on Friday. Also, the lawn has to be mowed. And I have to take down there the hdtv I acquired a couple of weeks ago. We only have a crt-based tv down there now, and I refuse to spend another summer down there without some kind of hd television. This one is a 32 inch 1080p thing. I have read the online articles. They all say over and over that 1080p is wasted on a person unless the television is 46 inches or so, and you are situated a few meters away from the thing. And it's Tuesday. Prior to the Spring Equinox. So, this 32 inch tv, having a full 1080p, will likely have its greater picture quality go unnoticed.
720p is the most, most people will ever need, so I wonder how much 4K will catch on with the public. Eastlink Cable broadcasts its HD at 720p, but it is a compressed 720p. It still looks really good.
Anyway, we can get rid of that old television down there this summer. Looking forward to that.
After work this evening, and after dinner, I decided to go for a walk around the neighborhood. There is a park bench a couple of streets over. Duck swim along the river and alight by the bench because they expect humans to give them some food. Next time.
Got back here, farted around with Sonaar, which is acting up again. When it works it works great. When it craps out, it is as frustrating as anything else that doesn't work. I am glad I have a couple of days off coming up.
You guys don't care about my plight, do you? Gee, thanks.
See you tomorrow. I'm a little hurt and need a good cry.
Bevboy
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Post 2981 - More On Evan Solomon
Late. Turning in shortly.
Newbie is having a grand old time tonight. I found a container of his catnip under the couch. He had been digging around for it for a while, and I decided to help him out. He jumped on it and has been running around like a crazy person ever since.
I wish I had something like that to keep me going. By late in the afternoon, my head often starts to nod. Other times, I take a quick nap after dinner. Still other times, it takes all my strength to get out of bed in the morning. Where is my damn catnip?
I mentioned Tim Bousquet here last night. In return, Tim was kind enough to link to last night's post on today's Halifax Examiner, even though I didn't really put my 2 cents in about Evan Solomon. I will now, briefly.
As Tim mentioned, he is used to making not a pile of money. He sees young journalists being paid a miserable wage, or even the equivalent of piece work, for whatever work they produce. In my own case, I take pride in my Frank column. I work hard to make it as correct as possible. If the job is worth doing, it is worth doing right.
Which is why I find it all the more disturbing how someone like Evan Solomon can take his job as the host of two political programs on the CBC, being paid very handsomely for this work, and manipulate it to make yet more money. Nothing illegal here, but crossing every ethical boundary one can imagine. I am shocked that Solomon thought there was nothing wrong with what he was doing. What was he thinking? What made him think this would be okay?
I love the CBC. But I do not love how a few of the people who work for it, take advantage of their positions for financial benefit. And I hate even more how their managers protect them. And how they pass it off as not being a big deal.
I hope Evan comes out of the wood work and tells his side of the story.
You guys have a good evening. See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Newbie is having a grand old time tonight. I found a container of his catnip under the couch. He had been digging around for it for a while, and I decided to help him out. He jumped on it and has been running around like a crazy person ever since.
I wish I had something like that to keep me going. By late in the afternoon, my head often starts to nod. Other times, I take a quick nap after dinner. Still other times, it takes all my strength to get out of bed in the morning. Where is my damn catnip?
I mentioned Tim Bousquet here last night. In return, Tim was kind enough to link to last night's post on today's Halifax Examiner, even though I didn't really put my 2 cents in about Evan Solomon. I will now, briefly.
As Tim mentioned, he is used to making not a pile of money. He sees young journalists being paid a miserable wage, or even the equivalent of piece work, for whatever work they produce. In my own case, I take pride in my Frank column. I work hard to make it as correct as possible. If the job is worth doing, it is worth doing right.
Which is why I find it all the more disturbing how someone like Evan Solomon can take his job as the host of two political programs on the CBC, being paid very handsomely for this work, and manipulate it to make yet more money. Nothing illegal here, but crossing every ethical boundary one can imagine. I am shocked that Solomon thought there was nothing wrong with what he was doing. What was he thinking? What made him think this would be okay?
I love the CBC. But I do not love how a few of the people who work for it, take advantage of their positions for financial benefit. And I hate even more how their managers protect them. And how they pass it off as not being a big deal.
I hope Evan comes out of the wood work and tells his side of the story.
You guys have a good evening. See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Monday, June 15, 2015
Post 2980 - Evan Solomon
So, I have been listening to CBC radio for most of my life. There are people who hate CBC radio. They think it should not exist. I defend their right to say and write these things, but I do not agree with them.
Last year, Jian Ghomeshi was fired by the CBC after allegedly using women as punching bags. Turns out that senior managers, in a nearly insane zeal to make the CBC relevant, protected Jian and downplayed any and all attempts to censure him, until it was too late.
Last week, Evan Solomon, host of "Power and Politics" on CBC television, and of "The House" on CBC Radio One, was fired after it was learned that he was arranging sales of art to rich Canadians, many of whom he would have on either or both of his programs. He was fired because of the perception that he would take it easy on these people, not ask probing questions, because to do so might squelch any of those art deals.
Tim Bousquet, owner and publisher of the Halifax Examiner, wrote at length about this situation last week. The Toronto Star, which broke the story about Solomon, were so impressed with Bousquet's piece, that they asked permission to re-run it as an opinion piece.
I have a lot of time for Tim Bousquet. We have exchanged quite a few pleasant emails and tweets about subjects as mundane as American crime fiction, he has taken the time and space to say nice things about my blog, and at one point last year even stated that someone should hire me to write a column about the comings and goings in Nova Scotia radio. Uh....
I do not agree with everything that Bousquet writes, but that is sort of the point. He is the kind of guy who will write and say what he wants, and if you don't like it, then he is doing his job. In that case you will either have to accept that or find something else to read. I accept that.
It occurs to me that you might have missed his comments about Solomon last week. So here you go. Here is the original version, spread over two days. Here is the version that the Toronto Star ran, which mostly just cuts out the cussing. I like the first version, because it is more raw (rawer?) and more honest.
I know that some of my readers are writers, and that a couple of them are journalists who live outside of the country, and therefore likely have not heard about this story. I would be interested in knowing their thoughts about Evan Solomon and Tim's response(s).
You guys have a good evening. See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Post 2979 - Sunday
Hello again.
I returned to the city late this morning. I got up in time to be wrong, dead wrong, about as wrong as a fella can be, on the CBC Weekend Morning Mystery Vocalist contest. #2 is not Doug Barron. Stan maniacally proclaimed that this particular vocalist entry may not be guessed for weeks and weeks. Sigh.
After that I drove out to my parents' and brother's graves. My siblings purchased flowers for dad's birthday, and since I was helping pay for the flowers I wanted to have a look at them. They are nice. I really should go see the grave site more often, as 3 of the 6 of us are buried there now.
I left the house around 9:30 and got back here shortly before 11. I mowed the front lawn and hung out and made my way through another 20 minutes of the "Deep Web" documentary I have been chipping my way through over the last several days. It is interesting, but I keep dozing off through it. Maybe it is the narration of Keanu Reeves; he's likely returning the favour as the doc is produced by his old friend Alex Winter. It is sort of an unofficial "Bill and Ted" reunion.
Patricia returned to the house after 4 days at the cottage, around 3:45. We caught up, I got my smartphone back, and we had a dinner of salmon and ravioli. This evening we started watching season 3 of "Orange is the New Black". We also watched the most recent episode of "Orphan Black". Say, what would they call a show about young female clones in a women's prison? Any guesses?
My mini vacation is over. As usual, it went by too quickly. In but a few hours I must get up and return to work. I have missed my little friends there. I hope they missed me. Say, guys. I know. If you missed me last week, why don't you buy me coffee tomorrow at break? Nothing says, "I missed you, buddy!" more than buying a fella a cup of coffee. Just saying.
You guys have a good evening. See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
I returned to the city late this morning. I got up in time to be wrong, dead wrong, about as wrong as a fella can be, on the CBC Weekend Morning Mystery Vocalist contest. #2 is not Doug Barron. Stan maniacally proclaimed that this particular vocalist entry may not be guessed for weeks and weeks. Sigh.
After that I drove out to my parents' and brother's graves. My siblings purchased flowers for dad's birthday, and since I was helping pay for the flowers I wanted to have a look at them. They are nice. I really should go see the grave site more often, as 3 of the 6 of us are buried there now.
I left the house around 9:30 and got back here shortly before 11. I mowed the front lawn and hung out and made my way through another 20 minutes of the "Deep Web" documentary I have been chipping my way through over the last several days. It is interesting, but I keep dozing off through it. Maybe it is the narration of Keanu Reeves; he's likely returning the favour as the doc is produced by his old friend Alex Winter. It is sort of an unofficial "Bill and Ted" reunion.
Patricia returned to the house after 4 days at the cottage, around 3:45. We caught up, I got my smartphone back, and we had a dinner of salmon and ravioli. This evening we started watching season 3 of "Orange is the New Black". We also watched the most recent episode of "Orphan Black". Say, what would they call a show about young female clones in a women's prison? Any guesses?
My mini vacation is over. As usual, it went by too quickly. In but a few hours I must get up and return to work. I have missed my little friends there. I hope they missed me. Say, guys. I know. If you missed me last week, why don't you buy me coffee tomorrow at break? Nothing says, "I missed you, buddy!" more than buying a fella a cup of coffee. Just saying.
You guys have a good evening. See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Post 2978 - Saturday
Getting late. Will turn in shortly.
Normally, at this moment, I would be watching this week's "Orphan Black". But as Patricia remains at the cottage, minus any kind of way to watch the show, I will postpone seeing it until we are both in Halifax on the morrow. Probably in the afternoon.
So, I went to some of those yard sales this morning. Some. The early morning weather interfered with many vendors' plans. But I did get a few neat things. I got a large plastic container full of computer parts, including an older-but-working flatscreen monitor and a couple keyboards and the like. It is nice to have a back up to the equipment I already have. Not that you care or anything.
I got a couple books, including one by Laurent d'Entremont, a Pubnico guy who appears on Information Morning once a month and is a hoot. The book is signed by him, so I got a deal. Got a Marvel comics hardcover for 50 cents and an Uncle John Bathroom book about (ice) hockey for another 50 cents. I got a wall clock and a can opener for $1.50. The can opener can replace the piece of crap one I have at my work. I bought it at the Bargain! Shop a few years ago. They had two models there, and I got the cheaper one, to my ever lasting regret. This new-to-me one looks much better. And the wall clock, once I put a battery in it this afternoon, works very well.
I got a crockpot for 2 dollars. I got a power bar that was fairly pricey originally, for another toonie. Where I got these last two things, is open every Saturday. The husband goes through foreclosed properties and cleans out items that would otherwise go to a landfill. I am not sure if he pays for them or not, but he gets them with the permission of the displaced people, who stand idly by and watch him go through their stuff, which they have abandoned already. The hubby brings the stuff home, and he and the wife turn around and sell it. They had a lot of stuff there, including stereo equipment, many dvd players, a couple breadmakers (one with the instructions still tucked away inside it), and very much else. I think I will go back there soon, now that I know where it is.
By this time, the money I had set aside for my excursions was pretty much spent, and I had got everything I wanted, so I drove to New Minas and got some stuff for lunch and visited my older sister for a few minutes. I returned to the house and ate my lunch and watched some Netflix and have had a quiet, uneventful day. Now, I have Sirius/XM on, tuned to the 1940's music channel that I listen to more than I have a right to, before I turn in and try to get some sleep. I just hope that Newbie doesn't keep me awake half the night the way he did last night.
Oh, one thing I nearly forgot to tell you. This morning I tried to do a good deed. While driving around the Starr's Point loop, I encountered a lost dog, bounding ahead of me and running across the road and back again. I would toot my horn to alert oncoming traffic. A couple of times I tried to get the dog, but it would run off. I could see it wearing a collar, so I can only hope its owners tracked it down, and that the dog is alive and well. I know I worry about trifles sometimes, but it is the fate of pets that really upsets me. I will try to find out if the dog is okay. I will sleep better knowing it is safe and sound.
Guess I will go do that. You have a good evening and I will see you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Normally, at this moment, I would be watching this week's "Orphan Black". But as Patricia remains at the cottage, minus any kind of way to watch the show, I will postpone seeing it until we are both in Halifax on the morrow. Probably in the afternoon.
So, I went to some of those yard sales this morning. Some. The early morning weather interfered with many vendors' plans. But I did get a few neat things. I got a large plastic container full of computer parts, including an older-but-working flatscreen monitor and a couple keyboards and the like. It is nice to have a back up to the equipment I already have. Not that you care or anything.
I got a couple books, including one by Laurent d'Entremont, a Pubnico guy who appears on Information Morning once a month and is a hoot. The book is signed by him, so I got a deal. Got a Marvel comics hardcover for 50 cents and an Uncle John Bathroom book about (ice) hockey for another 50 cents. I got a wall clock and a can opener for $1.50. The can opener can replace the piece of crap one I have at my work. I bought it at the Bargain! Shop a few years ago. They had two models there, and I got the cheaper one, to my ever lasting regret. This new-to-me one looks much better. And the wall clock, once I put a battery in it this afternoon, works very well.
I got a crockpot for 2 dollars. I got a power bar that was fairly pricey originally, for another toonie. Where I got these last two things, is open every Saturday. The husband goes through foreclosed properties and cleans out items that would otherwise go to a landfill. I am not sure if he pays for them or not, but he gets them with the permission of the displaced people, who stand idly by and watch him go through their stuff, which they have abandoned already. The hubby brings the stuff home, and he and the wife turn around and sell it. They had a lot of stuff there, including stereo equipment, many dvd players, a couple breadmakers (one with the instructions still tucked away inside it), and very much else. I think I will go back there soon, now that I know where it is.
By this time, the money I had set aside for my excursions was pretty much spent, and I had got everything I wanted, so I drove to New Minas and got some stuff for lunch and visited my older sister for a few minutes. I returned to the house and ate my lunch and watched some Netflix and have had a quiet, uneventful day. Now, I have Sirius/XM on, tuned to the 1940's music channel that I listen to more than I have a right to, before I turn in and try to get some sleep. I just hope that Newbie doesn't keep me awake half the night the way he did last night.
Oh, one thing I nearly forgot to tell you. This morning I tried to do a good deed. While driving around the Starr's Point loop, I encountered a lost dog, bounding ahead of me and running across the road and back again. I would toot my horn to alert oncoming traffic. A couple of times I tried to get the dog, but it would run off. I could see it wearing a collar, so I can only hope its owners tracked it down, and that the dog is alive and well. I know I worry about trifles sometimes, but it is the fate of pets that really upsets me. I will try to find out if the dog is okay. I will sleep better knowing it is safe and sound.
Guess I will go do that. You have a good evening and I will see you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Friday, June 12, 2015
Post 2977 - A Change In Plans
These humble, sub-par, slightly pathetic words come to you from... The Annapolis Valley.
Kind of a long story. I will try to keep it short.
Patricia, as I mentioned the other day, had a thing in Pictou County. I was gonna drive up on Thursday, once I got my column for Frank Magazine out the door. I finished it Wednesday afternoon, by the way.
Meanwhile, Patricia arrived at the cottage and discovered, to her absolute dismay, that the refrigerator there was no longer working properly. The freezer portion worked okay, but the refrigerator part did not. Much wailing and gnashing of teeth ensued. She would be stuck there until her thing was finished Thursday afternoon. She had dinner out with her co-workers.
I was still in the city. I had a bit of a headache on Thursday and slept a great deal. Come the afternoon, I decided it would be waste of time to drive there only to have no refrigerated food. Patricia agreed, and tentatively decided to come back to the city on Friday. She spent time after her work thing was over, purchasing a new fridge AND stove at the Brick in New Glasgow. They will be delivered next Friday the 19th. If she had arrived at the store 20 minutes earlier, they could have been delivered today. Another unfortunate thing.
I finished some chores in the city. Friday morning came, and I got up and managed to corral Newbie in his carrier so he came with me to the Valley. I told this to Patricia, and now she is thinking of remaining at the cottage until Sunday. Nobody is at the house, but it has a state-of-the-art security system, so I am not worried about a break-in.
Newbie and I are at the parental abode. I spent most of the afternoon mowing the lawn and taking the weed whacker to the stuff I couldn't mow down. The lawn mower and the weed whacker are the best 50 bucks I think I have spent in a very long time. They work great for what they are. The lawn mower's got a fairly narrow maw so it cannot gobble as much grass as the lawn tractor could, nor does it have the lawn tractor's power, but I no longer have to worry about changing the oil or putting in gas either. I am happy with the purchase I made last month.
After my chores were over, I went to New Minas to get some food for Newbie and to grab a bite for myself as well as a few victuals. I will be here until Sunday, now. I will be in town for the 2015 Port Williams Days, when until Thursday I figured I would miss the first one since the thing started in 2000. Nice to be able to maintain the tradition.
Early tomorrow morning, I will get up, as much as my bed will want me to stay there, and head out to check out the many, many, many village yard sales. Every year, I set out in search of a particular item. Many years, I have found that item. I have secured broadcast spreaders, huge carriers for Newbie (one of which I still have, and used today), a thing to keep a laptop on so it won't over heat), and the radio I use in my stock photo for Frank Magazine. I got it last year. I paid 5 bucks for it. It is a short wave radio with many other bands. I was assured it would work. Got it home. Plugged it in and turned it on. And not much happened. Every time I adjust the volume, the sounds of a 100 hounds from hell emanate from the speakers. I have encountered that kind of problem before. It usually involves putting a little bit of wd-40 in the space behind the volume control knob, in the hope that it will "creep" into the mechanism that needs the lubrication. I can't remember if I have done that or not. I just know that when I needed a prop for my Frank picture that I thought of that, and Patricia got the pic of me holding the thing, while I sat in a lawn chair in my back yard, just as the sun was setting.
Anyway, this is what I will be going to in the morning.
Kind of a long story. I will try to keep it short.
Patricia, as I mentioned the other day, had a thing in Pictou County. I was gonna drive up on Thursday, once I got my column for Frank Magazine out the door. I finished it Wednesday afternoon, by the way.
Meanwhile, Patricia arrived at the cottage and discovered, to her absolute dismay, that the refrigerator there was no longer working properly. The freezer portion worked okay, but the refrigerator part did not. Much wailing and gnashing of teeth ensued. She would be stuck there until her thing was finished Thursday afternoon. She had dinner out with her co-workers.
I was still in the city. I had a bit of a headache on Thursday and slept a great deal. Come the afternoon, I decided it would be waste of time to drive there only to have no refrigerated food. Patricia agreed, and tentatively decided to come back to the city on Friday. She spent time after her work thing was over, purchasing a new fridge AND stove at the Brick in New Glasgow. They will be delivered next Friday the 19th. If she had arrived at the store 20 minutes earlier, they could have been delivered today. Another unfortunate thing.
I finished some chores in the city. Friday morning came, and I got up and managed to corral Newbie in his carrier so he came with me to the Valley. I told this to Patricia, and now she is thinking of remaining at the cottage until Sunday. Nobody is at the house, but it has a state-of-the-art security system, so I am not worried about a break-in.
Newbie and I are at the parental abode. I spent most of the afternoon mowing the lawn and taking the weed whacker to the stuff I couldn't mow down. The lawn mower and the weed whacker are the best 50 bucks I think I have spent in a very long time. They work great for what they are. The lawn mower's got a fairly narrow maw so it cannot gobble as much grass as the lawn tractor could, nor does it have the lawn tractor's power, but I no longer have to worry about changing the oil or putting in gas either. I am happy with the purchase I made last month.
After my chores were over, I went to New Minas to get some food for Newbie and to grab a bite for myself as well as a few victuals. I will be here until Sunday, now. I will be in town for the 2015 Port Williams Days, when until Thursday I figured I would miss the first one since the thing started in 2000. Nice to be able to maintain the tradition.
Early tomorrow morning, I will get up, as much as my bed will want me to stay there, and head out to check out the many, many, many village yard sales. Every year, I set out in search of a particular item. Many years, I have found that item. I have secured broadcast spreaders, huge carriers for Newbie (one of which I still have, and used today), a thing to keep a laptop on so it won't over heat), and the radio I use in my stock photo for Frank Magazine. I got it last year. I paid 5 bucks for it. It is a short wave radio with many other bands. I was assured it would work. Got it home. Plugged it in and turned it on. And not much happened. Every time I adjust the volume, the sounds of a 100 hounds from hell emanate from the speakers. I have encountered that kind of problem before. It usually involves putting a little bit of wd-40 in the space behind the volume control knob, in the hope that it will "creep" into the mechanism that needs the lubrication. I can't remember if I have done that or not. I just know that when I needed a prop for my Frank picture that I thought of that, and Patricia got the pic of me holding the thing, while I sat in a lawn chair in my back yard, just as the sun was setting.
Anyway, this is what I will be going to in the morning.
Looks like fun, huh? Maybe I will see you there.
By the way, that is a pantry sale, and NOT a panty sale. You can imagine my embarrassment the year I misread it.
Now, if you will excuse me, I think I will finish this delicious Alpine Lager beer and turn in for the evening. Busy day tomorrow.
See you then.
Bevboy
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Post 2976 - Wednesday
Day one of my vacation is nearly over. I just wish I could say I had much to show for it.
Patricia left for the work thing in Pictou County this morning. She is now safely ensconced at the cottage, likely about to turn in, because she has to get up and work tomorrow.
Me? I will get up Thursday morning and pack a few things and wash the dishes and find a way to sneak Newbie into his carrier. That is always fun.
In anticipation of going to the cottage myself, I am copying some movies and tv shows to a portable drive. I began this hours ago, but the copying crapped out on another drive, and it is now toast. If I were running Windows, I could just run chkdsk/f and it would make the drive useful again. But I am running Linux and can't remember what the equivalent command is there. I will look it up after I finish this blog post. When I get to work on Monday morning, the boys who know this thing as a matter of course will make fun of me for having to take 30 seconds to look up the answer, because they just know. And I will begin to cry. So,thanks, guys. Thanks a lot.
Newbie has been all over me tonight. I am sure he realizes that Patricia is not here and that he had better be attentive to his remaining human. That will stop the moment I try to put him in his carrier. No more Mr. Nice Cat.
I sent in my latest column to Frank this afternoon. This will either be my best column, or my worst. I am too close to the material to be objective. Just giving you a heads up.
I guess I will turn in. Busy day tomorrow.
See you then.
Bevboy
Patricia left for the work thing in Pictou County this morning. She is now safely ensconced at the cottage, likely about to turn in, because she has to get up and work tomorrow.
Me? I will get up Thursday morning and pack a few things and wash the dishes and find a way to sneak Newbie into his carrier. That is always fun.
In anticipation of going to the cottage myself, I am copying some movies and tv shows to a portable drive. I began this hours ago, but the copying crapped out on another drive, and it is now toast. If I were running Windows, I could just run chkdsk/f and it would make the drive useful again. But I am running Linux and can't remember what the equivalent command is there. I will look it up after I finish this blog post. When I get to work on Monday morning, the boys who know this thing as a matter of course will make fun of me for having to take 30 seconds to look up the answer, because they just know. And I will begin to cry. So,thanks, guys. Thanks a lot.
Newbie has been all over me tonight. I am sure he realizes that Patricia is not here and that he had better be attentive to his remaining human. That will stop the moment I try to put him in his carrier. No more Mr. Nice Cat.
I sent in my latest column to Frank this afternoon. This will either be my best column, or my worst. I am too close to the material to be objective. Just giving you a heads up.
I guess I will turn in. Busy day tomorrow.
See you then.
Bevboy
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Post 2975 - Blech!!
Do not eat these things. President's Choice Bison Burgers. They are double plus ungood. Like, Orwell made up that phrase to describe President's Choice Bison Burgers, decades before they were invented. Very prescient of Eric Arthur Blair.
Time to go get stomach pumped.
See you tomorrow, assuming I survive the night.
Bevboy
Time to go get stomach pumped.
See you tomorrow, assuming I survive the night.
Bevboy
Monday, June 8, 2015
Post 2974 - One To Go
Monday evening.
My work week is half over. This time tomorrow I will be facing 3 vacation days right in the kisser.
Patricia's work thing begins Wednesday afternoon. I have decided that since I have to finish my latest Frank column by Wednesday night, that I will remain in the city that day and do so. I will drive up to Pictou County Thursday morning, knowing that the column in done so that I can enjoy some days off without guilt.
As for the blog: there will be content each day. I am not sure in what form but there will be stuff every day. Maybe if you have a suggestion you can let me know. Maybe I will bring up the topic of metaphors again. It's been a while. Maybe by discussing them, I can confront that fear and exorcise it. I mean, there is a name for every other fear for every other item in the world. What do you call "fear of metaphors", anyway? "Metaphorophobia" doesn't have the necessary lilt.
As things stand, I will probably have to spend the better part of a day down there mowing the lawn. I do not look forward to that.
Say, last week Patricia bought some of those frozen President's Choice bison burgers. We figured if they were good enough for Obama, they were good enough for us. Grilled them tonight. It was as if the bisons, upon their deaths, collapsed on a salt lick and were stored there until they could be refrigerated 3 weeks later, as a means of preserving their flesh. Very disappointing. I wonder if Obama's doctors know he eats that crap and is recommending that Canadians consume it as well? I know that some Americans read this blog every day. I hope they write their members of congress and tell them what POTUS is doing. For shame, sir.
I think I should do something to drain the salt from my body so that I can go back to drinking water. So, if you'll excuse me...
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
My work week is half over. This time tomorrow I will be facing 3 vacation days right in the kisser.
Patricia's work thing begins Wednesday afternoon. I have decided that since I have to finish my latest Frank column by Wednesday night, that I will remain in the city that day and do so. I will drive up to Pictou County Thursday morning, knowing that the column in done so that I can enjoy some days off without guilt.
As for the blog: there will be content each day. I am not sure in what form but there will be stuff every day. Maybe if you have a suggestion you can let me know. Maybe I will bring up the topic of metaphors again. It's been a while. Maybe by discussing them, I can confront that fear and exorcise it. I mean, there is a name for every other fear for every other item in the world. What do you call "fear of metaphors", anyway? "Metaphorophobia" doesn't have the necessary lilt.
As things stand, I will probably have to spend the better part of a day down there mowing the lawn. I do not look forward to that.
Say, last week Patricia bought some of those frozen President's Choice bison burgers. We figured if they were good enough for Obama, they were good enough for us. Grilled them tonight. It was as if the bisons, upon their deaths, collapsed on a salt lick and were stored there until they could be refrigerated 3 weeks later, as a means of preserving their flesh. Very disappointing. I wonder if Obama's doctors know he eats that crap and is recommending that Canadians consume it as well? I know that some Americans read this blog every day. I hope they write their members of congress and tell them what POTUS is doing. For shame, sir.
I think I should do something to drain the salt from my body so that I can go back to drinking water. So, if you'll excuse me...
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Post 2973 - Sunday
Hello.
I didn't write on Saturday. I apologize for that. After "Orphan Black" was over, there was no way I could stay awake, so I dozed off.
Saturday was busy. I drove to the Valley by myself. I checked out the Wolfville Farmer's Market, which never takes very long, but took even a shorter period of time yesterday because 8 or so wineries were in one room showcasing their wares, with an emphasis on the Tidal Bay brand of wine. Patricia would have been in her element and likely would have purchased one bottle from each winery, purely in the interest of science of course.
They didn't have any fiddleheads at the market, so I drove to the nearby grocery store in Wolfville, where they had a few packages left on half price. I got them all. And a day and a half later, I have had my fill of fiddleheads for another year. But I digress.
I then drove to New Minas and got yet more fiddleheads; these ones will go to the freezer for a later date.
I finally got to the house shortly after 11. I had an early lunch. Surfed the web for a bit. Verified that I could indeed access the contents of my Plex libraries here in Halifax, down there. Loaded up the car with that afore-mentioned tv stand. And around 1:15 I left the house and drove back to the city.
There was a near monsoon as I was driving back. I probably should have stayed in the Valley, but got back here around 2:30 anyway. I have been close to home ever since.
Today was about cleaning up some stuff, and watching a couple shows. I have had my shower and my shave and am ready for another week of work, although it is only 2 days of work, actually, because I am off for 3 days this week. I promise to think about you while I am at the cottage. But not in a creepy way, I promise..
I guess I will let you go for now. You have a good evening and I will talk at ya tomorrow.
Bevboy
I didn't write on Saturday. I apologize for that. After "Orphan Black" was over, there was no way I could stay awake, so I dozed off.
Saturday was busy. I drove to the Valley by myself. I checked out the Wolfville Farmer's Market, which never takes very long, but took even a shorter period of time yesterday because 8 or so wineries were in one room showcasing their wares, with an emphasis on the Tidal Bay brand of wine. Patricia would have been in her element and likely would have purchased one bottle from each winery, purely in the interest of science of course.
They didn't have any fiddleheads at the market, so I drove to the nearby grocery store in Wolfville, where they had a few packages left on half price. I got them all. And a day and a half later, I have had my fill of fiddleheads for another year. But I digress.
I then drove to New Minas and got yet more fiddleheads; these ones will go to the freezer for a later date.
I finally got to the house shortly after 11. I had an early lunch. Surfed the web for a bit. Verified that I could indeed access the contents of my Plex libraries here in Halifax, down there. Loaded up the car with that afore-mentioned tv stand. And around 1:15 I left the house and drove back to the city.
There was a near monsoon as I was driving back. I probably should have stayed in the Valley, but got back here around 2:30 anyway. I have been close to home ever since.
Today was about cleaning up some stuff, and watching a couple shows. I have had my shower and my shave and am ready for another week of work, although it is only 2 days of work, actually, because I am off for 3 days this week. I promise to think about you while I am at the cottage. But not in a creepy way, I promise..
I guess I will let you go for now. You have a good evening and I will talk at ya tomorrow.
Bevboy
Friday, June 5, 2015
Post 2972 - Friday
Welcome to another weekend.
Tomorrow, I will get up and go to the Valley and return with the item I discussed earlier this week. Patricia may or may not come with me. We don't know yet. Depends on several factors.
I only work two days next week. Can you dig it, brother? Only two days.
I don't have much else to report. I will just ask you to report to me, via your usual means, what your weekend plans are. Are you going to participate in the curbside giveaway, either by getting rid of stuff, or by looking around for stuff? Will you check out some of the places in Halifax not normally open to the public, that are open this weekend? Or will you just lay around the house waiting for the next installment in Bevboy's Blog? I know what I will be doing.
You guys have a good evening. See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Tomorrow, I will get up and go to the Valley and return with the item I discussed earlier this week. Patricia may or may not come with me. We don't know yet. Depends on several factors.
I only work two days next week. Can you dig it, brother? Only two days.
I don't have much else to report. I will just ask you to report to me, via your usual means, what your weekend plans are. Are you going to participate in the curbside giveaway, either by getting rid of stuff, or by looking around for stuff? Will you check out some of the places in Halifax not normally open to the public, that are open this weekend? Or will you just lay around the house waiting for the next installment in Bevboy's Blog? I know what I will be doing.
You guys have a good evening. See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Post 2971 - Thursday
Thursday night. Freshly showered and shaven. Newbie awaits me, tapping his paw on the floor and looking up at me with that cat-look of his.
Been a long day. But it is one day closer to the weekend. Then, I work Monday and Tuesday and then I am off for the balance of the week. Very much looking forward to those days off at the cottage.
I wasn't planning to, but I may go to the Valley this weekend after all. I have a tv stand down there that was in my mother's room. After she died, Patricia and I agreed that it would look nice at the cottage, once we got a big screen tv to put on it. That happened last evening, as you will recall from reading last night's post.
That tv stand came with another big screen tv I got last summer. I didn't need the stand, so I offered it to my mother, who gratefully accepted it. It is too good to throw out, and the stand that is at the cottage is not designed to hold anything bigger than a 20 inch crt-based television. We will get rid of the tv down there this summer, and almost certainly toss the stand, as well.
Anyway, before I can go out of town at all, I have to get through one more day of work. And tomorrow will be an interesting day to say the least. I look forward to its being over.
People are asking me to explain the meaning of "antepenultimate". Well, you can google the damn word, but assuming you are all thumbs, then I will help you. It is the 3rd to the last in a sequence. So, "X" is the antepenultimate letter of the alphabet.
Not hard at all. I am sorry that I do not have an appropriate university Spanish class anecdote to help you recall the word. If you have one, please proffer it.
Oh, one other thing that's kind of neat. Two people at my work have purchased the current issue of Frank Magazine and asked me to sign it for them. Page 24 is where my column starts this ish, and I have signed that page for two different folks. I will sign it for anybody else who buys it and wants me to sign it for them. Please buy many, many copies and tell your newsagent that you just love my column. Or, let my editor know how you feel about the column. Please, however, know the difference between "stupid" and "stupdendous". Thank you.
Here is how you can write my editor and say hello.
You guys have a good evening. See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Been a long day. But it is one day closer to the weekend. Then, I work Monday and Tuesday and then I am off for the balance of the week. Very much looking forward to those days off at the cottage.
I wasn't planning to, but I may go to the Valley this weekend after all. I have a tv stand down there that was in my mother's room. After she died, Patricia and I agreed that it would look nice at the cottage, once we got a big screen tv to put on it. That happened last evening, as you will recall from reading last night's post.
That tv stand came with another big screen tv I got last summer. I didn't need the stand, so I offered it to my mother, who gratefully accepted it. It is too good to throw out, and the stand that is at the cottage is not designed to hold anything bigger than a 20 inch crt-based television. We will get rid of the tv down there this summer, and almost certainly toss the stand, as well.
Anyway, before I can go out of town at all, I have to get through one more day of work. And tomorrow will be an interesting day to say the least. I look forward to its being over.
People are asking me to explain the meaning of "antepenultimate". Well, you can google the damn word, but assuming you are all thumbs, then I will help you. It is the 3rd to the last in a sequence. So, "X" is the antepenultimate letter of the alphabet.
Not hard at all. I am sorry that I do not have an appropriate university Spanish class anecdote to help you recall the word. If you have one, please proffer it.
Oh, one other thing that's kind of neat. Two people at my work have purchased the current issue of Frank Magazine and asked me to sign it for them. Page 24 is where my column starts this ish, and I have signed that page for two different folks. I will sign it for anybody else who buys it and wants me to sign it for them. Please buy many, many copies and tell your newsagent that you just love my column. Or, let my editor know how you feel about the column. Please, however, know the difference between "stupid" and "stupdendous". Thank you.
Here is how you can write my editor and say hello.
You guys have a good evening. See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Post 2970 - Wednesday
Well, I feel good tonight. I have acomplished something. I have taught several people the meaning of "penultimate".
Also, a few people today have called me "Benito".
In other news, after TM this evening, I picked up Patricia from her Pilates course and together we drove to an apartment in Clayton Park. A couple there were selling a used 32" flatscreen television, the perfect size for the cottage.
My only misgiving was that they mentioned that the power button was sometimes flakey. From time to time, it would not work. They said that the remedy was to hold down the power button for several seconds, and that it should correct itself. They demonstrated that to my satisfaction so I gave them the money, which was not much money at all. It is a solid tv and it was not expensive. Should last us a few years.
There are two HDMI inputs on the tv, and a couple composite/rca inputs, and a single component input. There is a big online discussion as to what is better, hdmi or component when you are at 720p. This is a full 1080p television, so I will thank you to keep that discussion out of here. The media player we keep at the cottage will look very nice indeed when we hook it up to this television next week. Can hardly wait to get there. We don't have cable, or satellite, or an internet connection down there. So having a media player hooked up via hdmi to an hd tv will make things much better than using the crt-based tv we have had there up to this point.
I will be taking 3 days off work next week to go to the cottage with Patricia. She has a conference or something to attend in New Glasgow. Rather than stay in a hotel there for two nights, she has opted to commute to and from the cottage, about a 45 minute drive one way. I will have those days to myself, but reality will intrude and I will have to mow the lawn or whatever, depending on the weather. But I will spend as much time watching this television as possible.
I look forward to those days off.
Monday will be my penultimate day before those days off. Friday the 5th will be my antepenultimate work day before the mini vacation. Don't ask me what I will call tomorrow, other than Thursday.
See you tomorrow.
Benito Bevboy
Also, a few people today have called me "Benito".
In other news, after TM this evening, I picked up Patricia from her Pilates course and together we drove to an apartment in Clayton Park. A couple there were selling a used 32" flatscreen television, the perfect size for the cottage.
My only misgiving was that they mentioned that the power button was sometimes flakey. From time to time, it would not work. They said that the remedy was to hold down the power button for several seconds, and that it should correct itself. They demonstrated that to my satisfaction so I gave them the money, which was not much money at all. It is a solid tv and it was not expensive. Should last us a few years.
There are two HDMI inputs on the tv, and a couple composite/rca inputs, and a single component input. There is a big online discussion as to what is better, hdmi or component when you are at 720p. This is a full 1080p television, so I will thank you to keep that discussion out of here. The media player we keep at the cottage will look very nice indeed when we hook it up to this television next week. Can hardly wait to get there. We don't have cable, or satellite, or an internet connection down there. So having a media player hooked up via hdmi to an hd tv will make things much better than using the crt-based tv we have had there up to this point.
I will be taking 3 days off work next week to go to the cottage with Patricia. She has a conference or something to attend in New Glasgow. Rather than stay in a hotel there for two nights, she has opted to commute to and from the cottage, about a 45 minute drive one way. I will have those days to myself, but reality will intrude and I will have to mow the lawn or whatever, depending on the weather. But I will spend as much time watching this television as possible.
I look forward to those days off.
Monday will be my penultimate day before those days off. Friday the 5th will be my antepenultimate work day before the mini vacation. Don't ask me what I will call tomorrow, other than Thursday.
See you tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Post 2969 - A Lesson Learned
Hello again, my friends.
A relatively long day. Will likely turn in early because I have a long day tomorrow. My penultimate Toastmasters club for the TM year.
Come to think of it, I actually have a "penultimate" story. I took a couple Spanish courses in university. (At one time or another I studied French, German and Spanish while pursuing my degree, just because I wanted to.) The instructor was a very passionate Spanish woman who told me more than once that she wanted to kill me because I wasn't applying myself enough in her class. I could not deny it. I had to concentrate on my core studies, and Spanish wasn't one of them. But I digress.
One day, we were discussing numbers, and she asked us what the English word for the next-to-last item in a sequence was called. She had forgotten. I said, "penultimate" because I had studied Assembly language a few years earlier and had had to learn to understand phrases like "the penultimate bit" in an octal or hexadecimal number. You know, in an effort to impress women. But I digress.
The instructor looked at me and smiled. Or maybe she had gas. I am still not sure. At any rate, she said that the Spanish word was very similar and said
She said it loud enough and with enough gusto that I felt justified in rendering it like I just did. She also frightened me a little. Enough to make me study a little harder in her class, going forward. At least the death threats stopped.
BTW, that was the same class where we had to adopt Spanish names. I was re-christened Benito. There was a girl in our class named Georgina. Because that name exists in Spanish, she was allowed to keep her name, but had to pronounce it in Spanish, were the "g" sounds were like heavy "h"'s. It sounded a bit like "Hey Or Hee Na". I ran into her many years later when I was a gym rat (which I need to be again!). She remembered me and recalled that incident and her flukey name.
Yeah, I know. You don't care. But would you rather read about a piddling incident like this from my youth, or not have a blog post at all this evening? Hmm?
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
A relatively long day. Will likely turn in early because I have a long day tomorrow. My penultimate Toastmasters club for the TM year.
Come to think of it, I actually have a "penultimate" story. I took a couple Spanish courses in university. (At one time or another I studied French, German and Spanish while pursuing my degree, just because I wanted to.) The instructor was a very passionate Spanish woman who told me more than once that she wanted to kill me because I wasn't applying myself enough in her class. I could not deny it. I had to concentrate on my core studies, and Spanish wasn't one of them. But I digress.
One day, we were discussing numbers, and she asked us what the English word for the next-to-last item in a sequence was called. She had forgotten. I said, "penultimate" because I had studied Assembly language a few years earlier and had had to learn to understand phrases like "the penultimate bit" in an octal or hexadecimal number. You know, in an effort to impress women. But I digress.
The instructor looked at me and smiled. Or maybe she had gas. I am still not sure. At any rate, she said that the Spanish word was very similar and said
"penúltimo!!"
She said it loud enough and with enough gusto that I felt justified in rendering it like I just did. She also frightened me a little. Enough to make me study a little harder in her class, going forward. At least the death threats stopped.
BTW, that was the same class where we had to adopt Spanish names. I was re-christened Benito. There was a girl in our class named Georgina. Because that name exists in Spanish, she was allowed to keep her name, but had to pronounce it in Spanish, were the "g" sounds were like heavy "h"'s. It sounded a bit like "Hey Or Hee Na". I ran into her many years later when I was a gym rat (which I need to be again!). She remembered me and recalled that incident and her flukey name.
Yeah, I know. You don't care. But would you rather read about a piddling incident like this from my youth, or not have a blog post at all this evening? Hmm?
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Monday, June 1, 2015
Post 2968 - Monday
Hello again, my friends.
It is late. I will be turning in shortly.
I had to share the cool news with you. I hope you care, but maybe you won't. Tell you what: if you care, be happy for me. If you don't care, pretend to be happy for me. Deal?
So, my latest Frank column went up today at frankmagazine.ca. What I sent my editor, and what he printed, are so close it isn't funny. He barely changed anything. Which is the first time this has ever happened. I must be doing something right. Which makes one in a row. Just ask anyone I work with.
And the second piece of cool news is that two of my columns are in the top 10 most-read online Frank articles for the month of May. Two of them. One of them is a hold over from April, but I can live with that. According to my editor, he only looks at the most-read articles, not how old they are.
I am hoping that the column that went up today will be in the top 10 for the month of June. I think this one has some staying power, folks.
So excited!
We watched "The Kingsman" this evening. Came out this Winter, but we missed it in theatres. Still looked and sounded really good on a big-screen tv. Apparently, it did well enough to warrant a sequel in the next couple of years. I look forward to it.
Hey, did I tell you about the two pieces of cool news yet?
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
It is late. I will be turning in shortly.
I had to share the cool news with you. I hope you care, but maybe you won't. Tell you what: if you care, be happy for me. If you don't care, pretend to be happy for me. Deal?
So, my latest Frank column went up today at frankmagazine.ca. What I sent my editor, and what he printed, are so close it isn't funny. He barely changed anything. Which is the first time this has ever happened. I must be doing something right. Which makes one in a row. Just ask anyone I work with.
And the second piece of cool news is that two of my columns are in the top 10 most-read online Frank articles for the month of May. Two of them. One of them is a hold over from April, but I can live with that. According to my editor, he only looks at the most-read articles, not how old they are.
I am hoping that the column that went up today will be in the top 10 for the month of June. I think this one has some staying power, folks.
So excited!
We watched "The Kingsman" this evening. Came out this Winter, but we missed it in theatres. Still looked and sounded really good on a big-screen tv. Apparently, it did well enough to warrant a sequel in the next couple of years. I look forward to it.
Hey, did I tell you about the two pieces of cool news yet?
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
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