Favourite Books

  • The Green Mile
  • Animal Farm
  • Lord of the Flies
  • Lord of the Rings
  • To Kill a Mockingbird

Wednesday 30 October 2013

You Knew It Was Coming

Well, at least my FaceBook friends knew this was coming. I really wish I was like the average Canadian, when someone in politics bends them over and sticks it to them, they whisper "ouch"...and then simply accepts My life would be much more relaxed, if sh*t did not drive me crazy, but it does, and I am totally off the deep end now.
  So.......my very favourite Crown Corporation is invited by Town Council to sit down with the community and give us the Heads up, and answer the millions of questions the public has. Hey, sounds like an awesome idea, right? I have questions, and I think they are obvious ones, so, since it was open mic, I assumed someone else in the crowd would ask my questions, because...they are so obvious.
  First, it was clear, Hydro had decided to take the sugar coated approach. There on the panel were two very well known faces, one local, one previous local...Oh, smiles and chuckles all about, see "We're just people, like you". Bull Sh*t!!!Hydro is not like me, or any one else in my social circle. Hydro is a conglomerate, it is , as I have said before, a country to itself. Sure, there are people, but they are Hydroids, they are citizens of a secure job, they are loyal to the perks and pay that is doled out to all upstanding employees that no longer even say "ouch", and dream of the day they may be the one standing, not bending.Hey, the first words out of the mouths of the panel was the tidbit that each one of them have recently been promoted...."Standers"????
  I personally don't give a rats a$$ if they have been given the brass ring, that ring is only available if you don't feel any guilt about screwing the public. That ring is given if you can spend 3 hours saying absolutely nothing, but speaking continuously.
  The heads up...well, I a$$umed this was going to go into depth on Site C, something that is paramount to the community, and myself. Oh, silly me...got to get the sunshine projects out of the way first. The things that apparently are extremely important. Now...don't get me wrong, the projects that were talked about at the beginning do appear to be important, things like a shabby spillway, and a lack of RipRap that protects the dam just up the road. Helloooo.....no where near enough RipRap on our big dam, and it is causing the water to wear on things...ah I feel all warm and fuzzy. WTF took them so long to decide this project was necessary? I would think when someone drives up to work daily, and notices rocks instead of ginormous boulders, this project would have been done long ago. Oh, that's right, Hydro has a deficit, these things cost money! Lets have a nice take out lunch, and chat on how shabby our visitor's center is, yes...we must fix that!!Honest to goodness, B.C. what have they been doing with the money? I hear blame placed on the government, well Howdee Doo, someone up top in this company should have had the balls to open their yaps, instead of resigning onto other positions. Ahh..that's right, they might lose a perk or two, like a humdinger of a pension.
  Instead we as a province have been constantly warned our rates are going to sky rocket, because there are massive upgrades, and serious improvements in the future to keep this company supplying us in electricity. O.K. I accept they f*cked up, they frittered the money away, making terrible decisions, and not doing the job they were suppose to.
  So........what do we do? Well, we hear the Minister of Energy tell us they are going to have to make some cuts in spending, and they are going to have to step up to the plate and fix the problems, however, it has gone too far, and the people are going to have to pay the price with higher rates. Hey, I can accept that harsh pill to swallow, I am going to have to tighten my belt, because those at the top couldn't balance their books.
  I would accept this, if it was even bordering on the truth, however, Hydro is obviously like a spoiled child, they are just not going to listen. Instead of cutting spending, they are gearing up for a real Hoe Down. The projects just in this little community are into the many millions, and this is not even counting Site C.
  They are in the midst of tearing down their Row Houses, these were built at the same time as most of the town, and have undergone a massive remodel within the 10 years I lived here. Oh, they are just not fitting for subsidized housing for young apprentices coming to work for an average of 6 months at the dams. They need something that is more suitable, something that will make these young people want to return to a town of "Nothing" . Oh and when they stay in these nice new Town homes, maybe they will come back, and stay in the new subsidized duplexes, with their families. Then they can save up enough money to perhaps buy a house here!!!WTF!!!!!!
  Oh Oh...almost forgot, along with the great big new build plans, Hydro is also passively acquiring even more homes in town. Remember folks, this is a freaking small town, maybe 750 in the town proper, so up to this point they have recently purchased 4 homes and have around 8 more pending. I have no clue how many they owned before they started this new phase. Also, keep in mind, their employees purchased many of the other homes, and these homes seem to sell on a revolving basis between Hydroids transferring in and out, it is not often they are on the market.
  Questions were asked, but not many on Site C, because that project only got a few minutes, and we were informed how the phases were moving along, and that we would get 30 days notice on public hearings sometime this winter. The questions that were asked pertained to the legacy which we got screwed royally with. Hydro decided it was in everyone's best interest to go to the Peace River Regional District with this legacy promise, and like any other government type group, majority ruled, the majority that would not be impacted, the majority with the large population and a population they are trying very hard to increase by pushing their boundaries out. The lion's share of the 2.4 million per year for 70 years, will be given to a city. Our town, with the massive impact, will receive 10%, which will likely dwindle as the town disappears. Ah...but Hydro claims this is a done deal, too bad so sad, can't rescind this, even if it is blatantly wrong.
  See, Hydro promises are not worth sh*t. It doesn't take a trip back too far to see the lies. In fact, one question last night, regarding all the passive acquisitions and the big build, was "In the 90's did Hydro not promise to step out of the Real Estate Market in our community?" The answer was "yes" and then, "are you not back in the market?" a little humming, and hawing, and "yes".
  So... why go to these meetings? Why listen and ask? It is obvious not an iota of truth is spilled, it may sound nice for the moment, but, hey, if we decide it doesn't suit our purpose down the road, we will just change it.
  Last night, I sat for 3 hours, and became increasingly defeated. I did not bother asking my questions, because there really isn't any sense. I realize that all I can do now, is start to stretch, and touch my toes. I highly doubt I will ever learn to whisper"ouch" but it is clear I am definitely set to be screwed!
  So when your rates go up, remember, somewhere in B.C. a young Hydro apprentice is enjoying housing suitable for them, and on the road to the same attitude as the rest of his country, the attitude that they are special, and separate from those who are not citizens of Hydro.
  Bend and stretch, bend and stretch....#nositeC

Saturday 26 October 2013

To Everything there is a Season

  Sometimes, in life, things occur, that go to the core of me, and the only way I can attempt to manage, is to try and write my feelings down. Lucky you, I have found a way to send this off to the whole wide world...however, sometimes, I am afraid I can't do justice to something that is monumental in my world. This is one of those times. I have had this heavy weight on my heart, and I have to write, so bear with me.
  My title,  is from a song my Mother loved, and myself as well. Strange...do you know it is actually based on Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verse 2, yep, the Bible! Likely everyone heard this in the movie Forrest Gump, it was there, because, if you listen to the words, it is the story of life.
  So, today, life is what I am thinking about. Oh, you have all heard my fears of getting old...however, at 57, no matter what, I have lived a few generations, even if I hope to live for at least one more, I must consider myself lucky.
  I have buried both my parents. That is the way life is suppose to go.Perhaps my Mother left far too soon, but my Dad lived to see his grandchildren grow, and even to see Great Grandchildren. Again, children should be left to mourn their parents, to hold onto the lifetime of memories, and continue on the legacy.
  What is not suppose to happen, did, yesterday. A father lost his son, a child I knew, a child that is the same age as my son, a child that my children knew, one who was a part of their group of friends. This parent will now have to bury his child. I have been having such a difficult time with this, because, it could easily happen to any parent. It is just not something I really gave much thought to, and truly wish I could stop dwelling on it.
  It was an accident...How easily that word rolls off your tongue, a broken glass..just an accident, a fall, and a sprained ankle...just an accident. A 23 year old boy, injured so badly, in a crash, that he does not survive...an accident. A glass can be replaced, an ankle heals, but this accident has taken a young life, and caused a whole family, in fact, a whole community, grief, disbelief, and pain. This accident will change lives completely, and has left an empty space.
  A parent always thinks of their children as such. Oh, we have babies, we have kids, we have teenagers, and then they are grown ups, but, they are always our children. No matter how old they get, the fact they are our children does not change. We are the ones who remember from the beginning, the very first day they came into the world. Their memories may begin as early as 2 or 3, but....never as far back as ours.
  We try to do our "job" properly. Every parent knows, your main focus is to ensure your child is safe. The fear of them running out onto the road, you hold their hands, and protect them. You teach them to swim, because heaven forbid, they may fall into a pool or lake. You walk them to the bus, because strangers are out there, and you worry. You check their candy on Halloween, just in case something bad is in the bag.
  However, the day always comes when you can no longer hold their hands to keep them safe. They start to live life without you. No matter how blase a parent may act, most of us have a difficult time when we let go of their hands. They likely don't know how many times we lay in bed waiting to hear the outside door open, to finally fall asleep, with the comfort that they arrived home. Maybe a quick call, when they are suppose to be home from trip, just to ask how things went, in truth, it is just that hand, touching..to quiet the worry.
  To let go, for such a short time, and to have the knowledge that never again will this parent know the comfort of the sound of the door in the late hours, or the quick call to ensure all is well, is devastating. It is every parents nightmare, and there is not a single thing one can do to protect themselves.
  The song...To everything, there is a season, and a time for every purpose under Heaven
                    A time to be born, a time to die
                     A time to plant, a time to reap
                    A time to kill, a time to heal
                    A time to laugh, a time to weep
 Yes, it is true, however, this was not the time for this child to die. I believe everything happens for a reason. That is the way I was raised, and I admit, there have been many times I questioned the reason. This is definitely one of those time. I wish I could understand why a parent must now live life without their child, they raised and protected for 23 years. A young man who never got a chance to live, a young man who will not be there to hold his father's hand, ever again.
  So, I suppose I have put down the words, and done my best to say what I am thinking. This time, however, I don't feel the weight lifted, instead, I feel a total loss of control...a wish that I could grab all the hands of every child, and keep them safe, until I am gone from this world. Then I would never have to imagine the grief this child's parents feel.
  Hold onto those hands as long as you can! The season that you have to let go, comes far too soon, and no matter how life is laid out before you, the day will come when those hands can no longer touch.