The Cabin Fever Rant n Rave.

The Cabin Fever Rant n Rave.

Dear Joe:

Today, I am getting some cabin fever. Not that the winter has been too long, it’s just I not getting into it this year. As you know my wife and I are raising our ten year old grandson and he is getting smarter by the day as I seem to be going in the opposite direction. The wife is not having this problem. Why is that?

Gravity is the answer. I am on the slippery slope and seem to be picking up speed. That is scary. Yes, I have turned a milestone year in my life according to the experts in the Family. I was always blessed with a lot of smart people in my life aka “know-it-alls”. So, you know you are automatically stupid as soon as they are in our house.

I usually call it our Home, but they quickly reduce this to a house and I want them out-ta my house. Furthermore as much as I try to love them, I don’t like them. Know, whom I am speaking about? The, pain-in-da-butts, but that is not nearly an accurate description.

Shit, they have an opinion about everything including my recent operation to “parts unknown” and they know all about it. How in the hell did you find all this out? I have not said a word other than it was a “mannish problem”. Well, if they got paid for all this knowledge and shared that with me, I would be well off and a free man.

Next, I don’t want all the advice, I rather learn on the run. And, assuming they never had, what I had, I don’t want to know what the worst case scenario might look like. That is scary enough knowing they know, what I don’t know, you know?

What’s, worst, they think I am the salt of the earth and they love me and profess this to me constantly. Wtf, am I doing wrong? I treat them nicely because I don’t to embarrass the Family and this makes me a saint. “They”, say Karma pay-back is a bitch. Seems, I need to examine my soul and find out where on the road I fell off.

Well, its ten o’clock somewhere, I need to have some red wine, which I keep hid behind the computer monitor, camouflaged  and I drink this from a 500 mL chili sauce jar ; will that will throw them off? Aka, why is poppa so happy?

So, what the hell was I talking about? Another sip of the golden nectar will surely make me recall. You have noticed that I have successfully rambled on about nothing and you have learned that growing older gracefully can’t happen to everyone.  Everybody is nutsy and you tell them that and they laugh. I, guess they know already.

Sorry, I better close off before this becomes well-worn. I have just aged to the 70 year plateau, which means goose egg to me, but everyone else is celebrating. I always thought they were nuts and this proves my case. Well, thanks for enduring this and you should be on your second 500 ml jar half-full of wine by now.

Thanks for fixing the snow blower, be sure to drop in soon and we can have some distilled mosquito bite to ward off the cold.

Yours humble-bull-lee,

 Bruce

I saw your name

Preamble: I was researching a name on the Findagrave.com website and by chance I wrote this name and was amazed at what I read and this prompted to write this obituary.



I read your obituary ,When I saw your name and your age of death,

I felt very sadden, Its not fair, to leave us soon.

I, couldn’t imagine the thought. Its enough when you lose your parents,

but a child, its awful. Yes, I know you were a young adult, but, in the tree of life, a child.



I never met you, nor did I know you were on this earth,

until yesterday, I read your obituary, I was searching for something else.

and your name came to my mind and within a few seconds, I was reading about you,

I read your obit, read it again and I reminisced the names of your Family.



I knew your Grandparents and aunt when I was younger and we had no idea what the world had in store for us. Wide eyed and naïve we were and just went on blind faith, And at once it seems were thinking what was in store for them, what would the future bring. Time moves quickly and fate does what it does. Little, did we know that a mutant cell was going to claim your life so soon.



I read your obituary ,When I saw your name and your age of death, I felt very sadden, Its not fair, to leave us soon. That thought will never leave me and in a moment when I want to just rest, your name will come to me and I think about what could have been for you. Its not fair, is there any justice left.? Tears, easily flow and I weep, for you. Life, isn’t fair.!!.



After a space in time, I begin to slow down and tell myself you are in a better place and yes, the pain of your death is still fresh in many minds, I am sure their thoughts are the same as this grieving process continues. The episodes will occur less often and we will still cry for your memory and how much we miss you and begin again to restore our selves.

To your Family and friends that knew you and loved you, raised, praised and cared for you, From the moment of your birth, to the moment of last breath, I offer my sincere condolences and forever in time, your memory will remain. Rest in peace.

I am still here.

Just a short note to let you all know I am still in operation.A little older but still willing and able to cut the mustard when it appears. The Grandkids are still challenging my intellect and they are winning. Everday they prove to me I am not as smart as them.

So,what if I built regions of the internet and now could care less about an ipad or ipod or ipip etc,its not the same as a pencil and paper now is it. I love the spell checker,its a bonus when it works. I can manage to confuse that critter everyday,so whom is smarter,the man or the machine.?

So,I am smart,but with 4 people trying to prove you wrong,well its a game. However,that said,when the shithitsthefan,who can you call.?? Yes,its me,the old man,poppa,pops,gramps.grumpy,grandpus,old geezer,and hey you.!!.

Been there and done that and making it work is my motto, along with,get the hell outta the way and why don't you go to your mamma's place.!! or don't I hear your mamma calling,you,"oh,fuck-head dinner's ready".?.

*sorry,I forgot to put in a disclaimer that certain language may and will be used to only make certain its not mis-understood, understand?. Confusing,??,wait until you get here,all that doubt will be removed,trust me.!!.

Ok,so,if I made some sense,yahoo and ifin I didn't,I don't care, because judging by the look on your face,you are part of the problem and there is no solution for you other than to donate yourself to a museum.!!

Amen.

How I met Joe.

How I met my friend Joe




In the younger days of my youth I would ride to the BMW rallies when they were within a days ride or 10 hours. At this point of my life I was a owner of a metric bike and that was fine because I could afford it. Sometimes the Family would go and other just myself.



This machine was easy on the pocket book and therefore since I was raising up a Family of teenagers, my budget was controlled by this fact. So, I had to save just like everyone else and buy a used machine. So, it came down to “how much”?.



I bought a 1983 Honda 750 c.c. black and no extras on it. It was a good bike and I enjoyed many miles on it. I would ride to these rallies with my buddies whom had moved to Beemer’s now and that was their interest and I was invited to go.



So, our first rally was only a 8 hours away and that was perfect. Only problem was these guys now rode at 120 klicks and I was left behind. And because the bike I rode was not fuel efficient at higher speeds, I had poor gas mileage so I stopped more. So, I decided to ride at my own level of comfort, aka “see you when I get there”.



As luck would have it there was a small pack of riders that were riding at the legal limit and I fell in behind them. When we pulled in for gas, guess what,they were women. I asked if they minded if I rode with them and I was ok with being the tail gunner,(last rider). No problem and that was the best ride ever, no hurries, no worries.



The only problem I had was keeping my mind on the ride, I was thinking its time for a Beemer as all these gals were riding them expect one. Anyway we made it and the guys were waiting and they were not laughing when, I pulled up with a posse of gals.



Sure I got ribbed that was ok because it was a the spirit of the ride and now there was a story to told and retold. The women were camped close by, so I asked to help them set up only if that was ok. Then I smelled gas, somebody was leaking.



It turns out it was my bike, and it was a seam separation in the front, small but still not tolerable. So, I had to go look for a shop to fix it. Saturday is a rough day to find a garage to help. I was given directions to Joe’s Shop because he was always open and he says come back on Monday.??



I had to explain that was “not from here” and I needed to have repairs done soon, because this was all the wheels I had. Well, ok, but you have to get the tank off yourself and then I will repair it. So, I parked the bike in the shade and it was already 90 in the shade and humid. It was off in a hurry and then we boiled the tank in hot water and it scratched my tank, Joe said this could happen.



So, while we were doing this I had to help him with a Dodge camper and remove the rad on it and then reinstall it. It was a hot and dirty job and I was not expecting this to happen. Then the gals came over to see if they could help and Joe says, No, thank you, but come over for lunch.



Soon all repairs are done and its 4 in the afternoon and we finally had lunch. The gals didn’t stay because of shopping but wanted to be sure the bike was ok. So, we had a nice chat Joe and I and he was going to get a bike too. He needed a new hobby. He was working too much. I mentioned my Family, he didn’t say anything about his.



When it came to pay he didn’t want anything. I said we should a cold beer and I went to get some, his friends came over and they had beer too. They never really closed the shop that day, The fact that he could help and I was appreciative was enough for them. I said I needed a calendar so I could send me a thank you card for his help and he wanted to know I got home ok.



Joe is now 80 yrs younger and has decided to put on sidecar on the Harley, his legs are getting weak. Well, the boys at the Hog shop aren't making any light bikes so you have to adapt.

True story , I am not, Judge Judy, folks !.

Hi Joe and Family:

Trusting this finds you well and well steeped in the Christmas preparations. With the kids, it’s the school plays and Claus parades and we have many lights in our town. True story, again and it involves my kid and the privileged delinquent next door. Looking for mischief.(rumour has it, he maybe moving in the near future, on the far side of town, even rougher out there.).

With the fresh snow fall comes fresh problems. The younger kids make little forts and snow people political correctness??. Hell, it’s a snowman., Merry Christmas, Good tidings and good will to you and Happy New Year.

When ,I said Merry Christmas to “peter da meter reader”, what did he say, ”back at you”, wtf, I said to him and I ranted for 30 seconds and I said the next time he steps on the property, the Ninja Cat has his name. No mercy, none. “is that back at you enough for you” ?.,butt head..

Did I digress?, the older kids, the imbeciles, stupid-mutts, wreck havoc on the little guys creations. Across the street is the former neighbour family, why, because one of my kids, an older one, with a big oral cavity said for her to “go to hell and mind her own business”, opus, not what to say to a mom in front of her little kids and …!!.
.
Well, in the real world, this could been handled right there on the spot. Now, with the political awareness group, it’s a fiasco. This lady comes over a blaring, yelling, turning blue and exhaling all over ,even I, Zbig-e-nuff, the biker was afraid. It was a honest rant.

“Yes, I know, but I ain’t Judge Judy, it happened over there. You handle it, write a letter to editor, don’t yell at me, its not polite, you offend me, I have rights too.! Yes, they are my kids, “make them beha

Make them behave,sure,whatever you want.!

ve”?. Look whom is speaking, yelling at the top of your voice, wanting to inflict physical damage to a certain person.??” Finger pointing and arms flailing.?? Yes, very dramatic.

“Make them behave”, Are you really, really pissed off, please call the police. Press charges, get your name on the record. Go to hell,??, Then,. please send them home And fret not.(Judge Judy says so).

Whatz, up??. Short story, the kids are not allowed to play over there……ever.!! Any toys we left over there were promptly returned. So, that’s where that went.!!. Her husband comes over and mumbles, sorry,??, no its me that’s sorry, my younger kid like to play there. NO, more kids playing with my kids, please.!! We shake hands. DONE.!!.

Since this happened, her kids are no longer visible nor can I hear them playing outside. She must be tres’ pissed,. My kids still play outside but not near the “high voltage compound”, stay away OR ELSE.

Gotta go, the washer has buzzed, the sheets are done, time for the dryer. Housework, bah, humbug.!!

Seasons Greetings to you all politically correctness bunch and A Very Merry Christmas to the rest of you all. They have taken many things away from our core values, saying a prayer before meetings, singing God save The Queen and now messing with the Christmas spirit of people. Whose rights are being offended, non believers or the ones that still hold onto traditions steeped in our pioneer fabric.

If was good enough for them, its ok with me too.!!

This women’s lovely face.

As I was looking for a piece of paper to do with my passport app and a picture fell into my lap. The picture ended face up and I gazed at this women’s lovely face and I wondered whom she was.

Slowly I turned the picture over as our eyes seemed to be fixed in a stare that I can call curious, why are you here.? Then I read her name, it’s the same name as my wife’s name.

How could this be, was it indeed the Grandmother I heard about for over 45 years.

I called out and asked if the name meant I had found the long lost picture of Grandma on her fathers side.? Well. that was a sudden change in plans, my quest was to find out whom I had found. Suddenly that little file cabinet had a lot traffic.

Sure enough after a few moments it was verified that indeed this picture was of her and nobody knew where it came from. I had an idea so I voiced it and it was for me to search and report back and everyone went back to the important stuff of the day.

So, to make a short story, this picture was in a box that came from her Dads estate along with a Family bible full of dates of marriages, births and deaths. And it was put in the steel filing cabinet to be sorted thru later. So, its now years later, this picture had worked its self to the top the pile and made its appearance.

This picture along with some other cards was sealed in a zip locked bag, so how did it get out.? , did someone look thru the pictures and forget to reseal it?. Who knows, but in this bag were other pictures of people that are related thru marriage and many post cards.

Cards were cheaper than paper letters so these were sent more often. These cards were from 1900’s and the postage was 1 cent and not much of an address, but they got thru.

If fact some these cards were please read and write back letters and poems.

I sorted thru them and placed them in a photo album and then all can see them and they were protected. For the age of them these are in “mint” condition. Luckily, Grandpa wrote on the back of the cards so you knew whom the picture was of and then you marvel at the person.

A lot of history, soldiers from the WW 1, early Canadian farmers, young children, babies all unknown and now mostly forgotten and no body to continue the search of the ancestry, for now, maybe somebody later. The majority of these people are deceased and all there is, are pictures and letters. The Grandkids are in their 60’s, so what’s the chance they might have an interest.?.

p.s. this has started a Family search thru history and from these two names the list includes over 70 names of different people that we are related thru marriage and relationships. The stories that I have learned about can fill another 300 page book,easily.

Thank you, you are not forgotten.!!

The story is about this cottage and its magic

Hi Joe;

How did you enjoy the long weekend?. We were invited out to visit the in-laws at the cottage and this was an experience worth telling you about. The visit went well, but it’s the aura of the cottage that intrigued me the most. Other people just wouldn’t notice things that I was attracted to.?

The story is about this cottage and its magic on me as I first viewed it in its cornered shaded and heavily treed lot. It had a certain timeless grace to it and its little nooks and carnies held little stories of their own. As I wandered around in the cottage I saw lots of well worn furniture and special blankets, pillows and afghans in each piece as well as the beloved wooden chairs. And the pictures on the wall old and faded and significant.

And then there is the smell of the cottage. Many different smells and complex aromas have been generated with the people going about there daily lives and enjoying the simple pleasures this offers. Its like opening a can of coffee and you breath deeply and the calming effect this has on your self, the cottage has the same effect as well.

The bathroom was small, about the size of a closet on the boat. You think this area would have been the largest for the amount of people that depend on it. Maybe there was an outdoor can that was available for the men only. No, more discussion on that, but I can sure write a story if required.

There was no air conditioners, a ceiling fan in the kitchen, it was the cross breezes from windows and screened doors., Certain doors gave a squeak in protest of been opened and closed. The appliances all had their certain uniqueness and you could see notes to help the next cook figure out the stove. Charming and homely would describe this place and I could imagine all the special memories this place held to the Family. It was like putting on a comfortable sweater against the cool of the evening.

There no electronics, no TV’s, no phones, just a radio with rabbit ears, that captured some faraway signal, once in its life. A few jig saw puzzles and game boards were stacked neatly in the cupboards. Kids will bring their hand held games but there is a time limit on them, enjoy the out of doors, play with them later.

And the outdoor family Fire pit is always ready to warm and cook snacks like s-mores. It had a character of its own and it was easy to see why it was close to the house as many meals were served off its hearth. Gas Bar-b-ques are more efficient, and will in time replace this timeless treasure.

As I looked around, no dusty bunnies or cobwebs were to be seen, either very good house keeping or the breeze sure is stiff in here. There was a bit of carpet but mostly good old vinyl flooring and it was in good shape. The bedrooms were all arranged for adults and kids, so theoretically you could have slept anywhere. It was well cared for and neat as a pin when empty of guests.

The front deck was ample, with tables and chairs, perfect. There was a lot of room and with a rail on top to hold your plate of food ,all you need is a chair and that’s how you eat your meals. You could see every one and talk without our spraying them with your food. Ain’t, life grand.??. Life experience, priceless.

But, because of the age of the principal owners this was surely the last year this cottage would have its original Families here as the place was going to go up for sale and no one was willing to buy it and carry on the traditions. I think that, All the special memento’s would go in the trash and then it was a done deal. The usual kids treasures of stones, drawings and feathers and pieces of drift wood.

That is a sad thing, as the grandkids and their ilk will never know how unique this place was to their great-grandparents, thee grandparents and the parents where they sent all summer long here, learning to swim, growing up and bonding with the land they called the Summer Place by the Lake. Telling a kid about it is one thing, but let them live it, the experience, is another. Lessons about life.

I don’t know what the reasons are that the younger age group of kids are turned off about. If it’s the price of the cottage or the hassle of getting there that makes less attractive. Perhaps the lack of luxurious accommodations and surroundings. They are perhaps the ones that find going to the “the Blue Mountain Chalets” as perfect source of activity. Not, the same.!!

Best time of all is when everybody is making supper and dinners and as the burnt offerings are been prepared on the Holstein grill and its smoke and aromas whetting everyone’s appetite. Hot dogs for the kids and burgers for the adults with corn on the side and a famous homemade salad and crusty buns.. I can imagine the noise as everyone was digging in and trying to talk with a mouth full.! Towels and napkins, please.

Its like ritual happening 3 to 4 times per day that a makes this all special, all I know is when you are near water you are always hungry and the kids are twice as hungry. Cooking outside is better than a hot kitchen, everybody gets a break and only one is a fryer aka a cook.

That warm and fuzzy feeling you get when its over, plates are loaded, people fed and your dinner is cold. Yes, been the camp cook, is a privilege all onto its own.!! No dishes to do.!! And you are expected to do this again.??? Anybody else, want a turn??. Many a fine times are spent at this location and the chats that were held, beyond priceless.

This nostalgic moment is brought, by Many Beers and Ales, and mighty fine wines, brought here ever since the cottage was built, a lot of malted beverages was consumed here, processed here and left here to mingle with the earth from whence it came. I am sure if you scouted around you could find some empties of glory days waiting to see the light again. Cycle of life, you bet.!!

Hey, Joe, want to buy a cottage, I hear we can get a real deal.??. ,those nooks and carnies sound interesting .!!.