This morning, I decided that there is a very good reason I hate winter! It takes up too much time! Because I am getting older, I can't afford to waste time, therefore, Winter is screwing me out of "life"time.
Growing up in a community that would receive the Guinness World record snow falls, I can't remember hating the season. Back in the "old" days shoveling snow, usually meant money. Money is good! I had to shovel at home for free, but there were always some jobs, even..the very best shoveling job, the school roof, that one could get a nice clump of change from. Shoveling the school roof was a two-fold bargain, first, no school, second, getting good money to spend time with friends saving the school from collapse. Geez, we were pretty damn important, without our hard work, the whole building would be destroyed,,,oh for goodness sakes..were we idiots? If none of us had been so desperate for money, the school would be buried under a mountain of snow, and we would have all be sleeping in the whole winter! I suppose that is silly, they would have found someone else, but, we still felt pretty important! Another job we had, was shoveling the snow away from the house windows, so that there would be some light in the house.Most homes had peaked metal roofs, with a four foot snowfall over night, then a few days of rain, the snow would start to slide. Laying in bed, in the silence of a tiny town, all noise seemed loud, and the snow inching it's way down the roof, was a common sound in the dark. Sometimes you would listen and hear it finally |give" as it slid off, but most of the time it was just the "ounching" as it moved ever so slowly. At some point all of that snow would come off, and because there would be another 4-5 feet on the ground, it would sort of hang in the air along side of the house walls,making each home a tunnel. That would be when my Mom would send us out to clear the windows. Now, one trick I was taught, never clear the snow from around the bottom of the house. That was insulation. The snow had to be carefully moved away from the house, and...one had to watch that they did not break the stuff (very heavy, wet snow) so it slid and hit the window. After this job was done, we could enjoy day-light indoors until the next big dump. As children, we would constantly be soaking wet in winter. My feet would be prunes from December on. My winter boots were never dry, always a plastic bag inside, to allow me a few moments of dry socks, to begin. We would be bundled up in snow pants, and jackets and mittens. Wool mittens..ah..they were nice, but...our snow was just not the type for woolen mittens. The stuff was very wet, perfect for snow balls, and snowmen, but, within a short period, those mittens would weigh 5 pounds a piece soaking wet, and off they would come, bare hands were the "norm". Because of the large amounts of snow, it wasn't just our hands and feet that got soaked, we would be wringing wet right up to our armpits. But....never, ever cold!
Back in the day, I always had a job of some sorts. I was lucky enough to be able to purchase an awesome snowmobile. I remember it vividly, it was such a pretty blue, and the name of the machine was |Scorpion". Now this was a brand new company, a couple of the guys I hung out with bought the bigger machines, I got myself the "girlie" sized one. This machine allowed me some of the most incredible times in my memories. It also...now I bet lots of you folks will wish you lived back in these times..allowed me to drive to work. Yep, snowmobiling on the roads in my home town was legal. I would get up, get dressed in my CIBC burgundy pant suit, pull my snowmobile suit on over top, fire up the Scorpion, and whip on down to the bank, where I parked on the sidewalk, and spent my day with my old fashioned posting machine. All day, I would know that when work was done, I could rush out, jump on my beloved machine, and head over to the bar for a couple of drinks, and then home to change, only to run back out, and spend hours in the pitch dark, racing about back roads with a bunch of friends, and then..maybe another few drinks before calling it a night. That machine took me on to Glaciers, and snow slides, and behind mountains,on top of mountains,places no one could ever get to in the summer, it was a time of total awesome! The sights I was privy to on this machine were unforgettable. The best part, spending time with a group of friends that were just as thrilled to do the same thing. I have the pictures which of course were taken back in the 70's so not near as crystal clear as photos now, but..each one can take me back to a special time, one that was filled with laughter, and unforgettable characters.
Now, well, I do have to shovel. I have to shovel when the highways decides to blade the road in front of my house,pushing 1/2 a block of ice and snow into my driveway, usually just before I arrive home at lunch.My honey saw fit to buy me a snowblower,this year, to assist in snow removal, however,the machine does not like to go through the large clumps of frozen crap that is piled at the entrance of the driveway. My windows do not get covered with large dumps of snow, but..I have two decks now that must be cleared off, when the sh*t becomes too heavy. The main issue, is the flipping cold! Now, growing up, we got tons of snow, but, it was only cold (and by that, just into the minuses) for a few days. Here, it can be -30, and.....it is snowing!!!WTF????? Hey, my boots are never really wet, because I can't allow that, I would get frost bite. I have had my ears burnt in the middle of winter, trying to shovel my driveway. Not sunburnt, burnt by the cold and the wind. My feet are never prunes, nope, instead they are dried cracked appendages, that sting and bleed. My hands are like brillo pads, try putting a sheet of fabric softener in the garbage..hah!! the thing will not come off my hand, worse if I step on it in the laundry room, with bare feet, it will stay on my foot until I sit down and wrench it off. I hate fabric softener sheets!!
Winter is also a time to attempt to conserve on utility bills. As a young child, we had a tiny oil stove in the dining room that was what kept us warm through the winter. I guess all that snow, insulated the house, because I can't remember waking up freezing. However, here..Hah! We would have to live in one bedroom to survive with that tiny stove. Each gas bill will arrive, and throw me into shock. Yes, we are able to claim 50% of the Northern living allowance on our income tax, however, this does not come anywhere near close to compensating for the extreme costs of winter life here. Then the Hydro bill, 1/3 of that cost will be in the first "tier" which is apparently the average usage, and 2/3's of course in the far more expensive second "tier". Not sure why this corporation does not comprehend that every single person living in this area is always into the second tier, because...it is freaking cold, and dark for the majority of our winter. We are not wasting electricity, we are simply surviving. So....to help offset the gas bill, and to protect ourselves in case of power outages, the woodstove becomes a part of my winter. I have a love hate relationship with this "appliance". The wood room is the only place I feel warm. The heat that comes out of the stove is capable of warming my old bones. Wood stoves are dirty. It originally was set up in my livingroom, but the constant packing in of wood, with bark and splinters dropping all about, drove me batty, Although it was properly placed on a tiled area, the rest of the room was carpet. Now..no matter how careful one was, sometimes when you went to fill the thing, a chunk of wood would "pop" sending an ember traveling a great enough distance, it landed in the carpet. Now, that carpet is gone, but, the wood stove has been moved to the basement, to save on mess, and the continual ash issue. When I get out of bed, at what I used to consider an ungodly hour (5:30-6AM) I immediately let one dog out on the run (often having to rush out in my P.J's because the run is tangled on a tree) and then make my way down to the basement, to fill up the stove. Then back up (often leaving the stove damper open, because there are only a few embers to catch the wood on fire) again, rushing outside to untangle the outside dog, letting them in, and hooking up the second. Then setting the Tassimo up for a cup of coffee, and back down to the basement, hoping the fire caught. Upstairs again, second dog tangled, out into the -frigid, likely swearing, because by now I have snow in my shoes, and I am still barefoot. Then I can sit.
So, today, my second day off, it is clear I must spend time with the snow blower (not really comfortable with the thing yet) and.....an hour or so, hauling wheel barrow loads of wood into the basement. Yep, so there, 4 hours of my day spent dealing with winter! I am getting old, I want to use my time to relax a little, to read, to bake, to simply enjoy life. 4 hours X's 6 months, give or take a few days, is an awful lot of time (not good in math, therefore I will not calculate, and also, I am sure the number would give me chills) and I am beginning to think I am too old for this!
I am trying to be positive, December 21st, is coming. I love that date, more than any other. It is the winter turnaround. Unless you have lived most of your life in the north, you likely don't even consider this date, but for folks like me, this is a great day. December 21st is the shortest day. All this time daylight has been becoming less and less, this morning at 8:30, still pitch black. However on December the 22nd, we begin our ascent into longer days, it is the moment we have survived the darkness, and days become longer. I have been around long enough, I know it is only moments longer, but...this is what I grasp onto to allow me hope. Only 10 more days, and we head into summer.
Thursday, 11 December 2014
Wednesday, 26 November 2014
Different Rules for Big Business
Well, anyone on my Facebook can see I posted a newspaper article written by a group of big business folks in B.C. regarding Site C. Of course, being business, they are telling everyone that going with the 3rd Dam on the Peace is the best choice. They speak of the thousands of employees they have, and what this will do for industry. The group is composed of a few in the mining sector, of course the big guy with the Chamber of Commerce, and.....in amongst the others is a name that helped put our lives in the toilet, along with 184, others. The man who runs a consulting business. Now, this person, not only owns that company, he is apparently branching out, with a new company. O.K. the company is not so new, it has been sitting on the shelf for some time, very quietly, however, it is now poised to grow, as ...wait for it, a trucking company.
Big business seems to have a whole whack of different rules. Well, maybe they are not rules, more like loopholes. If you can afford to hire some great legal minds, you can hide things, and pretend they never happened. Only months after taking one company and flushing it, along with about 2 million in unpaid wages, and somehow forcing leased vehicles, and equipment to be sold to assist in paying your "secured" creditors (those other folks, along with yourself,
wealthy enough to have legal assistance) pennies on the dollar in loans, you can apparently just brush yourself off, and try a different one.
You can simply pretend that you were never a part of this disaster, and focus on your primary company that is blossoming away. You can envision a project that will mean more millions in your pocket, and then act like you are the voice of knowledge. People across the province see your name, along with your peers, and perhaps have heard of your "shiny" company, filled with professionals, who get all kinds of benefits, and take part in various charities under this company name. You appear to be an amazing man, who has grown an amazing company from the ground up.
Well, along with quite a few other folks, I have a glimpse of the man behind the name. That name played stock market games along with a group of buddies, gambled millions on a company, that pretended everything was fine, lied like sidewalks when questioned the facts, and allowed 184 of those thousands of employees, to fall into serious hardship, after working a month for free for his company. Oh, oh, he was smart, he made sure his name was not at the top, handed the management of this company over to one of his other business friends, and sat back as it shriveled. But, facts are, this WAS his company. The offices of this company were located right next to the blossoming company. When he helped screw folks out of their rightful wages, not a single piece of the sh*t went next door, because....he had enough money to protect his a$$ets.
So, when I see an article, telling myself and everyone else living in British Columbia, to accept this massive project that Hydro and our government are trying to shove down our throats, I see the words a little differently than the average reader. I see the words of big business, looking for the next fortune they can lasso. I know one of those "writers" is a man who does not care what the costs will be. I see a man who doesn't care about the past, certainly doesn't give a thought to the future, one who only lives for the present, and strives to ensure he gets every piece of the pie possible. I see a man who can lie, and allow slave labour, a man who makes a huge mistake, and then covers it up, and pretends it never happened.
The Chamber of Commerce is beside him. Hellooooo..really???? Do they accept 184 employees screwed blue and tattooed? Is this person a prime example of business in B.C.? Is this the man who truly knows what is best for the citizens, the taxpaying workers? This man who allowed 184 people to work a full month, knowing they were not going to see a dime. This man who when things went south had his legal experts fighting for 200,000 he claims to have loaned the company, all the while ignoring the fact that his employees were losing homes, and suffering. Did he step up and offer some compensation? Hah!!! Nope, he just ran into his other offices, and hid in the back, trying to keep his skin covered, so when everything settled, and the f*cked company was officially bankrupt, he could come to the surface, and sit down with his buddies to tell us what we should do.
So, when you read articles..that will impact your world, and..again I tell you all, Site C will impact every single person who gets a Hydro bill in B.C., check out the people who are claiming they are handing you the facts. Cripes, even my tiny little blog..go and check out my spews. I am not an expert in anything, beyond toilet scrubbing. Use your own common sense, do NOT take the word of someone who appears to be a successful business man, because, behind many successes, there are more failures. Personal failures are one thing,but failures that cause 184 people serious negative impact, should certainly have some bearing on the amount of water your words hold.
He can pretend he didn't screw up royally, and head off into the sunshine in a truck with a different logo, but....some of us don't believe a word he says, and if he is in cahoots with the others who put their names along side his...I don't believe them, either!!
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Opinion+Site+would+build+legacy+leadership/10403682/story.html
Big business seems to have a whole whack of different rules. Well, maybe they are not rules, more like loopholes. If you can afford to hire some great legal minds, you can hide things, and pretend they never happened. Only months after taking one company and flushing it, along with about 2 million in unpaid wages, and somehow forcing leased vehicles, and equipment to be sold to assist in paying your "secured" creditors (those other folks, along with yourself,
wealthy enough to have legal assistance) pennies on the dollar in loans, you can apparently just brush yourself off, and try a different one.
You can simply pretend that you were never a part of this disaster, and focus on your primary company that is blossoming away. You can envision a project that will mean more millions in your pocket, and then act like you are the voice of knowledge. People across the province see your name, along with your peers, and perhaps have heard of your "shiny" company, filled with professionals, who get all kinds of benefits, and take part in various charities under this company name. You appear to be an amazing man, who has grown an amazing company from the ground up.
Well, along with quite a few other folks, I have a glimpse of the man behind the name. That name played stock market games along with a group of buddies, gambled millions on a company, that pretended everything was fine, lied like sidewalks when questioned the facts, and allowed 184 of those thousands of employees, to fall into serious hardship, after working a month for free for his company. Oh, oh, he was smart, he made sure his name was not at the top, handed the management of this company over to one of his other business friends, and sat back as it shriveled. But, facts are, this WAS his company. The offices of this company were located right next to the blossoming company. When he helped screw folks out of their rightful wages, not a single piece of the sh*t went next door, because....he had enough money to protect his a$$ets.
So, when I see an article, telling myself and everyone else living in British Columbia, to accept this massive project that Hydro and our government are trying to shove down our throats, I see the words a little differently than the average reader. I see the words of big business, looking for the next fortune they can lasso. I know one of those "writers" is a man who does not care what the costs will be. I see a man who doesn't care about the past, certainly doesn't give a thought to the future, one who only lives for the present, and strives to ensure he gets every piece of the pie possible. I see a man who can lie, and allow slave labour, a man who makes a huge mistake, and then covers it up, and pretends it never happened.
The Chamber of Commerce is beside him. Hellooooo..really???? Do they accept 184 employees screwed blue and tattooed? Is this person a prime example of business in B.C.? Is this the man who truly knows what is best for the citizens, the taxpaying workers? This man who allowed 184 people to work a full month, knowing they were not going to see a dime. This man who when things went south had his legal experts fighting for 200,000 he claims to have loaned the company, all the while ignoring the fact that his employees were losing homes, and suffering. Did he step up and offer some compensation? Hah!!! Nope, he just ran into his other offices, and hid in the back, trying to keep his skin covered, so when everything settled, and the f*cked company was officially bankrupt, he could come to the surface, and sit down with his buddies to tell us what we should do.
So, when you read articles..that will impact your world, and..again I tell you all, Site C will impact every single person who gets a Hydro bill in B.C., check out the people who are claiming they are handing you the facts. Cripes, even my tiny little blog..go and check out my spews. I am not an expert in anything, beyond toilet scrubbing. Use your own common sense, do NOT take the word of someone who appears to be a successful business man, because, behind many successes, there are more failures. Personal failures are one thing,but failures that cause 184 people serious negative impact, should certainly have some bearing on the amount of water your words hold.
He can pretend he didn't screw up royally, and head off into the sunshine in a truck with a different logo, but....some of us don't believe a word he says, and if he is in cahoots with the others who put their names along side his...I don't believe them, either!!
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Opinion+Site+would+build+legacy+leadership/10403682/story.html
Monday, 24 November 2014
So Many Missing
I am not sure why I have taken so long to write this, it is something that has troubled me for many years, and it just seems to be ever increasing.
Oh, I always understood how very awful it would be to lose a family member, or loved one, who simply disappeared. The concept is so horrible, but, it was always a story I heard on the news, or maybe a TV show I happened to watch. Growing up, I just don't remember ever hearing about someone who just evaporated.
I lived very close to the "Highway of Tears", in fact, when the dark cloud started to descend on this stretch of road, I had neighbours who were Ramona Wilson's close family. That opened my eyes, just a little more..that was just too close for comfort. I have thought of this young girl since that time, her body was found, unlike many others, but..the mystery remains, and so many other families have lost loved ones along this highway.
Many years later, after moving to our present home, a young man just disappeared. He had family locally, it happened very close by, and he was a friend to many young people in town. Just instant, gone..no note, no witnesses, no clue at all. One minute he was surrounded by friends, and enjoying life, and without warning, there was no sign of him at all.
I could not imagine what his family was going through. This was a son, a brother, a friend, and...not a soul had any idea what happened to him. I read letters his mother wrote, I cried, what horror that would be. A child you raised, gone..you would worry for the rest of your life, perhaps they were hurt, perhaps they were lost, perhaps they lost their memory, and wandered about. Perhaps someone kidnapped them? See, children do run away, but, this boy had no reason to run, and , even when they do run away, someone has knowledge, after months of watching the family suffer, one of those friends would feel the compassion to ease their pain, right?
Well, sadly, to truly understand the pain and anguish those who have "missing" feel, one must experience this horror. It is horror! It is a constant life of anticipation. One anticipates every single possibility life holds. The beginning of this, is almost like a state of disbelief. It cannot be happening, there is a mistake, and someone is suddenly going to make it all better, because it was a plan, and, it was just to see if anyone really cared. Maybe they went off partying and it just got a little carried away, the phone is sure to ring in the morning, and you would tell them how worried you were, and get mad, but, only for a moment, the relief of hearing their voice would wipe the worry away. Weeks go by, the weather is terrible, the thought this loved one is perhaps hurt, and trapped, unable to make their way to safety, and is suffering in the cold..can you imagine? I thought I could, but, it is worse than one can imagine.
To try and consider every possibility, to attempt to concentrate on the positive, to keep hope alive, it is almost impossible. There are so many "maybes'. This is someone who you have had in your life , some since the day they were born. This is, in my case, a young child, who I watched grow up. He was there, in every day life, he laughed, he joked, he loved, and was loved. He had children of his own, he had a huge extended family, and everyone of those, held him in their hearts. He was "our" PeeJums, "our" PJ, Perry's son, Perry Jr. Granny Elsie's Grandson. He was a son and a father, and a cousin of many, who grew up, with PJ always a part of their world.
Yes, he made mistakes, who of us has never screwed up? He did things that maybe put him in danger, that most of us do not. He took chances. He was so very naive, and..sadly, so very trusting. He had a huge heart, and again, sadly, did not see some of those he dealt with, were not nice. However, those who love him, do so, because of his laughter, his openness, his trust, his cockiness, the attitude that he is indestructible. See, even trying to tell you, who PeeJums is, I find myself not knowing, do I write in the present tense, or the past?
That is the hardest part of all of this! I work very hard to keep PJ alive. I keep him alive for myself, and those who,like me, miss him, all the time. We don't know..can you fathom what that is like? To not know, if somewhere out there in this enormous world, the person you are missing, is living their life without you? To imagine this family member has decided that they will simply walk away, leaving all those who love him without a word? See, that, that is impossible! They would never do that! They would never allow their Granny to suffer day after day, year after year. They would contact someone, and let them end the agony. They have big hearts, they love, and they would not allow this hurt.
I keep a tiny bit of hope alive, I have one little possibility that I dig out, once in awhile, when I feel the dream he will return, slipping away. I am not foolish, I accept that there is a very good chance, that it is likely our PJ is no longer alive, but...there is a chance.
What I cannot understand, in all of this, in our "missing" and all the other missing people, is, someone knows something!! I am sorry, it is possible that one in 5, may have stumbled about, lost in the bush, and perished. But....day after day, the list of missing grows longer. I live in an area that is not highly populated, how the heck do so many go missing? How do so many, who one moment are with a large group, and then suddenly, they disappear, and not one person has a clue to what happened?
People out there know!! They, unlike PJ, do not have big hearts, or smiles that light up the room. They cannot see how others suffer, or, more likely, they don't care. I personally think they enjoy the pain that they allow. They spend their days, with the knowledge of what happened. They hold the answers, the ability to lift this darkness off the families that spend every moment, wondering, and worrying. They can write a note, leave it in a public washroom, they can drop a card in the mail, there are so many ways they can solve these mysteries, and provide a small comfort, the knowledge if that loved one is still alive, or, if they are not, where a parent, or child, or loved one, can find the resting place. These people are simply evil! To know that evil like this exists, is horrifying. This evil is most frightening, because....you can't see it, it could be anyone, because...like those we are missing, we have no clue who the ones that hold the answers are, we imagine them everywhere, we know they have no hearts, so we may speak to them in a public place, they may live just down the road, they might be on your Facebook.
So, to try and imagine what it is like to have a "missing" loved one, is impossible. Each time I see a posting of someone who has disappeared, I understand that the worlds of those who search, have changed completely.
I admit, as the years go by, it is not constant, like it was in the beginning, the first year... it is better than the second year, but...as the time of the year he left, approaches, I find he returns in my thoughts, more and more. What those who search are looking for, is closure..closure to a constant pain, it may not be the answer we hope for, but the question is simply too much to bear. My heart goes out to all of those who must continue this search.
Please, those who know, let PJ come home!! We miss him dearly.
Oh, I always understood how very awful it would be to lose a family member, or loved one, who simply disappeared. The concept is so horrible, but, it was always a story I heard on the news, or maybe a TV show I happened to watch. Growing up, I just don't remember ever hearing about someone who just evaporated.
I lived very close to the "Highway of Tears", in fact, when the dark cloud started to descend on this stretch of road, I had neighbours who were Ramona Wilson's close family. That opened my eyes, just a little more..that was just too close for comfort. I have thought of this young girl since that time, her body was found, unlike many others, but..the mystery remains, and so many other families have lost loved ones along this highway.
Many years later, after moving to our present home, a young man just disappeared. He had family locally, it happened very close by, and he was a friend to many young people in town. Just instant, gone..no note, no witnesses, no clue at all. One minute he was surrounded by friends, and enjoying life, and without warning, there was no sign of him at all.
I could not imagine what his family was going through. This was a son, a brother, a friend, and...not a soul had any idea what happened to him. I read letters his mother wrote, I cried, what horror that would be. A child you raised, gone..you would worry for the rest of your life, perhaps they were hurt, perhaps they were lost, perhaps they lost their memory, and wandered about. Perhaps someone kidnapped them? See, children do run away, but, this boy had no reason to run, and , even when they do run away, someone has knowledge, after months of watching the family suffer, one of those friends would feel the compassion to ease their pain, right?
Well, sadly, to truly understand the pain and anguish those who have "missing" feel, one must experience this horror. It is horror! It is a constant life of anticipation. One anticipates every single possibility life holds. The beginning of this, is almost like a state of disbelief. It cannot be happening, there is a mistake, and someone is suddenly going to make it all better, because it was a plan, and, it was just to see if anyone really cared. Maybe they went off partying and it just got a little carried away, the phone is sure to ring in the morning, and you would tell them how worried you were, and get mad, but, only for a moment, the relief of hearing their voice would wipe the worry away. Weeks go by, the weather is terrible, the thought this loved one is perhaps hurt, and trapped, unable to make their way to safety, and is suffering in the cold..can you imagine? I thought I could, but, it is worse than one can imagine.
To try and consider every possibility, to attempt to concentrate on the positive, to keep hope alive, it is almost impossible. There are so many "maybes'. This is someone who you have had in your life , some since the day they were born. This is, in my case, a young child, who I watched grow up. He was there, in every day life, he laughed, he joked, he loved, and was loved. He had children of his own, he had a huge extended family, and everyone of those, held him in their hearts. He was "our" PeeJums, "our" PJ, Perry's son, Perry Jr. Granny Elsie's Grandson. He was a son and a father, and a cousin of many, who grew up, with PJ always a part of their world.
Yes, he made mistakes, who of us has never screwed up? He did things that maybe put him in danger, that most of us do not. He took chances. He was so very naive, and..sadly, so very trusting. He had a huge heart, and again, sadly, did not see some of those he dealt with, were not nice. However, those who love him, do so, because of his laughter, his openness, his trust, his cockiness, the attitude that he is indestructible. See, even trying to tell you, who PeeJums is, I find myself not knowing, do I write in the present tense, or the past?
That is the hardest part of all of this! I work very hard to keep PJ alive. I keep him alive for myself, and those who,like me, miss him, all the time. We don't know..can you fathom what that is like? To not know, if somewhere out there in this enormous world, the person you are missing, is living their life without you? To imagine this family member has decided that they will simply walk away, leaving all those who love him without a word? See, that, that is impossible! They would never do that! They would never allow their Granny to suffer day after day, year after year. They would contact someone, and let them end the agony. They have big hearts, they love, and they would not allow this hurt.
I keep a tiny bit of hope alive, I have one little possibility that I dig out, once in awhile, when I feel the dream he will return, slipping away. I am not foolish, I accept that there is a very good chance, that it is likely our PJ is no longer alive, but...there is a chance.
What I cannot understand, in all of this, in our "missing" and all the other missing people, is, someone knows something!! I am sorry, it is possible that one in 5, may have stumbled about, lost in the bush, and perished. But....day after day, the list of missing grows longer. I live in an area that is not highly populated, how the heck do so many go missing? How do so many, who one moment are with a large group, and then suddenly, they disappear, and not one person has a clue to what happened?
People out there know!! They, unlike PJ, do not have big hearts, or smiles that light up the room. They cannot see how others suffer, or, more likely, they don't care. I personally think they enjoy the pain that they allow. They spend their days, with the knowledge of what happened. They hold the answers, the ability to lift this darkness off the families that spend every moment, wondering, and worrying. They can write a note, leave it in a public washroom, they can drop a card in the mail, there are so many ways they can solve these mysteries, and provide a small comfort, the knowledge if that loved one is still alive, or, if they are not, where a parent, or child, or loved one, can find the resting place. These people are simply evil! To know that evil like this exists, is horrifying. This evil is most frightening, because....you can't see it, it could be anyone, because...like those we are missing, we have no clue who the ones that hold the answers are, we imagine them everywhere, we know they have no hearts, so we may speak to them in a public place, they may live just down the road, they might be on your Facebook.
So, to try and imagine what it is like to have a "missing" loved one, is impossible. Each time I see a posting of someone who has disappeared, I understand that the worlds of those who search, have changed completely.
I admit, as the years go by, it is not constant, like it was in the beginning, the first year... it is better than the second year, but...as the time of the year he left, approaches, I find he returns in my thoughts, more and more. What those who search are looking for, is closure..closure to a constant pain, it may not be the answer we hope for, but the question is simply too much to bear. My heart goes out to all of those who must continue this search.
Please, those who know, let PJ come home!! We miss him dearly.
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Ghosts
I know, we are heading into Christmas, and Halloween is lost past..what's up with the ghosties? Well, I figured I would go on about my take on ghosts, and maybe not so much goblins, because, like old Mr. Scrooge, this is the beginning of my ghost season.
It seems someone locally has recently claimed to see a ghost in an area I have spent much time over the past decades, without so much as a shiver. Do I think it is possible? Sure...Do I think it is likely the phantom has been hiding out in there for umpteen years? Nope!! See, I do not doubt many stories of the "supernatural" simply because, what the heck do we really know about this? It is on the level of UFO's, of which..hummmm...well, that is possibly another story for another time. I will say,perhaps what this person experienced is a vision of her own. This I believe strongly. I have no doubt when loved ones leave this world, they do not simply evaporate.
Have you ever found yourself in a new place, and suddenly felt all the hairs rise on your arms, and tingles down your back? I have! What seems like a lifetime ago, my BFF and I set off to travel about my Dad's birthplace. Oh, I loved visiting Nessie's Castle, and traveling across the river on a Ferry, and driving about the countryside where he had spent his young years. But...I needed to see the big sights. I needed to stand in the shadow of Stone Henge, and visit the Tower of London, all of which allowed me to feel the centuries of time, and the thrill of placing my feet where those I studied in Social's class, once stood.
I am not sure what brought us to the one place that allowed me to feel what I expect is a massive connection to the past, but the moment I stood on the grounds of Culloden Moor, I was stunned. The energy that surrounded me, almost felt like a blow. To this day, I cannot even look at a video without the hair raising. Do I know of any ancestors that fought in this terrible battle, no, but that does not mean they never did. Was it just the energy left by all those who had died in this place? Perhaps, perhaps I have the ability to feel the loss, and there are other places of great battle, or disaster that would affect me this way. So, I am open to accept that others connect as well.
At my workplace, we have some who refuse to go into certain buildings at night, because they have seen someone, one swears it is a woman, another claims it is a man. One is frightened of the woman, the man, well, he just flits in and out. Hey, who am I to dispute this?
We all dream. Our dreams often are filled with loved ones, who have left us, even beloved pets visit our dreams. They can feel so very real, so real that when you awake, you are upset, you wish the dream could continue, and you could spend more time, visiting. Why is it not possible for the visits to occur outside sleep? I for one, believe they do. I firmly believe if you open your mind, and concentrate, you just might get a gift.
This special time of year, when family and friends make the holiday, is the time I look forwards to. Oh, it is not like when I was young, looking forwards to the presents, and baking. It is not like when my children were young, and I couldn't wait to see Christmas through their eyes, or , my Grandchildren's eyes. I look forwards to the connection to those who I miss so very dearly. The one special person, who I miss the most, my Mother. See, perhaps it is my own emotions, perhaps it is my imagination, but...she will visit! I will feel her, right beside me, not always, not everyday, maybe not even Christmas day, but, sometime during the holidays, she will be there. I have had moments throughout the year that I know she is close, the two shells that showed up out of no where, hey, no one else may understand, but, I am positive that was her. Others do not see her, they don't feel her, it is only me. They will see the joy I get, they will see the comfort, the visits are only mine, my special gift, from the one I miss the most.
So, Mr. Scrooge saw 3 ghosts, his past, his present, and his future. A life cannot be lived without energy, energy is everywhere. protons, neutrons, we don't wander about with electricity sizzling all about but...there is energy. Science does not have the answer to everything. Memories, letters, pictures, all of these can produce emotions, emotions need energy, energy is created when one cries, when one laughs, when one moves..this energy perhaps is what allows those no longer "living" to be felt. Who knows??? I just know, I cannot dispute what others claim, I cannot explain what I have experienced..so...I certainly look forwards to at least 2 of my three ghosts, and the future, well, I would prefer that one stay in the dark.
It seems someone locally has recently claimed to see a ghost in an area I have spent much time over the past decades, without so much as a shiver. Do I think it is possible? Sure...Do I think it is likely the phantom has been hiding out in there for umpteen years? Nope!! See, I do not doubt many stories of the "supernatural" simply because, what the heck do we really know about this? It is on the level of UFO's, of which..hummmm...well, that is possibly another story for another time. I will say,perhaps what this person experienced is a vision of her own. This I believe strongly. I have no doubt when loved ones leave this world, they do not simply evaporate.
Have you ever found yourself in a new place, and suddenly felt all the hairs rise on your arms, and tingles down your back? I have! What seems like a lifetime ago, my BFF and I set off to travel about my Dad's birthplace. Oh, I loved visiting Nessie's Castle, and traveling across the river on a Ferry, and driving about the countryside where he had spent his young years. But...I needed to see the big sights. I needed to stand in the shadow of Stone Henge, and visit the Tower of London, all of which allowed me to feel the centuries of time, and the thrill of placing my feet where those I studied in Social's class, once stood.
I am not sure what brought us to the one place that allowed me to feel what I expect is a massive connection to the past, but the moment I stood on the grounds of Culloden Moor, I was stunned. The energy that surrounded me, almost felt like a blow. To this day, I cannot even look at a video without the hair raising. Do I know of any ancestors that fought in this terrible battle, no, but that does not mean they never did. Was it just the energy left by all those who had died in this place? Perhaps, perhaps I have the ability to feel the loss, and there are other places of great battle, or disaster that would affect me this way. So, I am open to accept that others connect as well.
At my workplace, we have some who refuse to go into certain buildings at night, because they have seen someone, one swears it is a woman, another claims it is a man. One is frightened of the woman, the man, well, he just flits in and out. Hey, who am I to dispute this?
We all dream. Our dreams often are filled with loved ones, who have left us, even beloved pets visit our dreams. They can feel so very real, so real that when you awake, you are upset, you wish the dream could continue, and you could spend more time, visiting. Why is it not possible for the visits to occur outside sleep? I for one, believe they do. I firmly believe if you open your mind, and concentrate, you just might get a gift.
This special time of year, when family and friends make the holiday, is the time I look forwards to. Oh, it is not like when I was young, looking forwards to the presents, and baking. It is not like when my children were young, and I couldn't wait to see Christmas through their eyes, or , my Grandchildren's eyes. I look forwards to the connection to those who I miss so very dearly. The one special person, who I miss the most, my Mother. See, perhaps it is my own emotions, perhaps it is my imagination, but...she will visit! I will feel her, right beside me, not always, not everyday, maybe not even Christmas day, but, sometime during the holidays, she will be there. I have had moments throughout the year that I know she is close, the two shells that showed up out of no where, hey, no one else may understand, but, I am positive that was her. Others do not see her, they don't feel her, it is only me. They will see the joy I get, they will see the comfort, the visits are only mine, my special gift, from the one I miss the most.
So, Mr. Scrooge saw 3 ghosts, his past, his present, and his future. A life cannot be lived without energy, energy is everywhere. protons, neutrons, we don't wander about with electricity sizzling all about but...there is energy. Science does not have the answer to everything. Memories, letters, pictures, all of these can produce emotions, emotions need energy, energy is created when one cries, when one laughs, when one moves..this energy perhaps is what allows those no longer "living" to be felt. Who knows??? I just know, I cannot dispute what others claim, I cannot explain what I have experienced..so...I certainly look forwards to at least 2 of my three ghosts, and the future, well, I would prefer that one stay in the dark.
Tuesday, 18 November 2014
A Hotel Question
Geez..maybe I just needed to let off a little gas, to get the crap moving..Finished the last spew, and just settled back , when suddenly another popped into my head.
Now..this is something as a toilet scrubber, I, and my fellow scrubbers have often wondered about. I figure what the heck, might as well put it out there, maybe I will get an answer.
So..I have ranted about tips before, perhaps I have ranted about this matter, and forgot, but..here it comes again!
So, we have Joe Blow. He has found himself stuck in Hick town B.C. for months on end, holed up in a hotel. Hey, he lives his life, he works, he showers, he poops, he does things to "relax" in bed. He gets pimples, he scratches, he gets "wounds" that foul his bedding. He is pretty easy going, not a difficult guest, but....has his little picky things, and..we as the housekeeping staff , quickly clue in, and cater to these whims. See, when you are the ones who wander in behind the locked doors, you see stuff that others don't. Your job is to clean this stuff up, and make things all crisp and clean again.
O.K. we talk. We call fellow workers in, when we find stuff that is gross, but...we have to clean it. Sometimes others will help, then they know, perhaps they have to be on the "look-out" when they end up behind that door. We know who they are, we know that we will likely meet the one who made the grossness, during our work day. We smile, we say how cold it is, or how nice it is, but....we also look at this person and know what we cleaned up, and...they really must look at us, and know we know, right? Hey, all part of the job.
The problem I have is, tipping. Now.....don't get me wrong, I don't expect tips..oh, I like the few and far between surprises, but, they are definitely few and far between. However, our work place also has a restaurant attached. Those who stay long term use that for their meals. In the restaurant they tip, every meal the wait staff gets something, and...I understand, that is a good thing. The wait staff brings their food, cleans up their dishes afterwards, and is, hopefully, friendly. Man cannot live without food, so...they serve comfort and satisfaction.
Thing is, man cannot live comfortably in filth, apparently some cannot live without clean towels daily. Man does not feel the urge to flush all the time, and...sometimes they coat the toilet with glue poo, and....yes, it is us, the magic poop fairies who whisper in, with our toilet brush wands, and scrub that sh*t, sometimes for 15 minutes, until it comes off, leaving no sign of splatter. Man can splatter his wound weeping all about the bedding, just a day after getting crisp clean sheets, and, again, the magic happens...He returns to a bed, covered in fabric softener smelling sheets, with no sign of gross on them.
The same man who laughs and smiles, and hands over a daily tip to the person who brings their food to their table, packs up after 4-6 months of having the magic fairies even wash his dishes from time to time, so he can arrive in his room, after a long work day, and not have to clean that mess up, and heads home. What does he leave those who have learned his habits, and tried to make him feel at home, just a little? Yep, you guessed it, nothing!!
We have seen them take gifts to the wait staff, walking right past us, as if we didn't exist. We have heard about the large tips, and seen the little trinkets (O.K. cups and glasses). When we go into these rooms after the guest has stayed with us for 1/2 a year, we may find 1/2 a yoghurt container in the fridge, or a cup of Cheerios in an open box, but...never, do we find a tip!! Oh, we could get a single black fuzzy sock left under the bed, or a well used pair of boxers forgotten in the sheets, but, unless we save those socks and make a few pairs, they are worthless.
Yes, we get wages, however, so do the wait staff, so.......the question is, why do guests feel the need to acknowledge the one who takes their order, and brings their meals? Those who wipe their little pubies out of their shower, scrub their feces off the toilet, pick their kleenex off the floor beside their bed, remove their skidmark sheets and replace them, hang their towels or fold them, in the area they feel is more acceptable, wash their dirty dishes, wander back and forth until they see fit to allow us the time to go into their rooms, and do our jobs, we, apparently are not worthy of acknowledgement.
Just seems a little wonky to me..perhaps someone has the answer?
Now..this is something as a toilet scrubber, I, and my fellow scrubbers have often wondered about. I figure what the heck, might as well put it out there, maybe I will get an answer.
So..I have ranted about tips before, perhaps I have ranted about this matter, and forgot, but..here it comes again!
So, we have Joe Blow. He has found himself stuck in Hick town B.C. for months on end, holed up in a hotel. Hey, he lives his life, he works, he showers, he poops, he does things to "relax" in bed. He gets pimples, he scratches, he gets "wounds" that foul his bedding. He is pretty easy going, not a difficult guest, but....has his little picky things, and..we as the housekeeping staff , quickly clue in, and cater to these whims. See, when you are the ones who wander in behind the locked doors, you see stuff that others don't. Your job is to clean this stuff up, and make things all crisp and clean again.
O.K. we talk. We call fellow workers in, when we find stuff that is gross, but...we have to clean it. Sometimes others will help, then they know, perhaps they have to be on the "look-out" when they end up behind that door. We know who they are, we know that we will likely meet the one who made the grossness, during our work day. We smile, we say how cold it is, or how nice it is, but....we also look at this person and know what we cleaned up, and...they really must look at us, and know we know, right? Hey, all part of the job.
The problem I have is, tipping. Now.....don't get me wrong, I don't expect tips..oh, I like the few and far between surprises, but, they are definitely few and far between. However, our work place also has a restaurant attached. Those who stay long term use that for their meals. In the restaurant they tip, every meal the wait staff gets something, and...I understand, that is a good thing. The wait staff brings their food, cleans up their dishes afterwards, and is, hopefully, friendly. Man cannot live without food, so...they serve comfort and satisfaction.
Thing is, man cannot live comfortably in filth, apparently some cannot live without clean towels daily. Man does not feel the urge to flush all the time, and...sometimes they coat the toilet with glue poo, and....yes, it is us, the magic poop fairies who whisper in, with our toilet brush wands, and scrub that sh*t, sometimes for 15 minutes, until it comes off, leaving no sign of splatter. Man can splatter his wound weeping all about the bedding, just a day after getting crisp clean sheets, and, again, the magic happens...He returns to a bed, covered in fabric softener smelling sheets, with no sign of gross on them.
The same man who laughs and smiles, and hands over a daily tip to the person who brings their food to their table, packs up after 4-6 months of having the magic fairies even wash his dishes from time to time, so he can arrive in his room, after a long work day, and not have to clean that mess up, and heads home. What does he leave those who have learned his habits, and tried to make him feel at home, just a little? Yep, you guessed it, nothing!!
We have seen them take gifts to the wait staff, walking right past us, as if we didn't exist. We have heard about the large tips, and seen the little trinkets (O.K. cups and glasses). When we go into these rooms after the guest has stayed with us for 1/2 a year, we may find 1/2 a yoghurt container in the fridge, or a cup of Cheerios in an open box, but...never, do we find a tip!! Oh, we could get a single black fuzzy sock left under the bed, or a well used pair of boxers forgotten in the sheets, but, unless we save those socks and make a few pairs, they are worthless.
Yes, we get wages, however, so do the wait staff, so.......the question is, why do guests feel the need to acknowledge the one who takes their order, and brings their meals? Those who wipe their little pubies out of their shower, scrub their feces off the toilet, pick their kleenex off the floor beside their bed, remove their skidmark sheets and replace them, hang their towels or fold them, in the area they feel is more acceptable, wash their dirty dishes, wander back and forth until they see fit to allow us the time to go into their rooms, and do our jobs, we, apparently are not worthy of acknowledgement.
Just seems a little wonky to me..perhaps someone has the answer?
Blogged Down
Just had to title this the above as, in truth, I am feeling bogged down, therefore, I just have not been able to sit and send off daily, or even weekly rants. I have far too many rants stewing away, getting rid of one at a time, just isn't possible. I can't pick the one thing I want to send out into cyberspace, and my grey matter is becoming overloaded.
I recently made the decision to cut back my work days. One would imagine scrubbing toilets is a pretty menial job, with very little thought process needed. Well, the actual scrubbing procedure is very basic, but, somehow, outside issues worm their way into even a simple job, and one begins scrubbing a toilet with the weight of a cement barricade resting on their shoulders.
I started working at a fairly young age, in a job that required some thought process. I was also required to dress appropriately, be friendly, and helpful. Those were what my employee expected. There were a whole lot more rules handed out by my parents. My Mother had a whack of morals that she would hand out on a daily basis to me. I guess I will share some of these with the world, as, like Aesop's fables, a lot of my view of how I live my life, has been based on these snippets.
One of the most heard.."remember who butters your bread". Now those butter'ers were at one time, my parents, and my boss. Without them, my bread would be pretty dry,and hard to swallow, geez, without my parents, I wouldn't even have bread!! I use that to this day. I may not agree with everything my employer does, but....they are the ones who slap the butter on my bread twice a month.This saying is not limited to a job, it suits life, as a whole. Some say to "remember which side the bread is buttered". If one looks about, and can clearly see who supports them, who gives them friendship, love, and makes life a better place, then, one must always remember, they provide the butter..butter is one of my favourite things, along with chips and, of course, bacon!
One of the other sayings.."don't shit where you eat". Hellooooo...along with the "piss pot out the upstairs window" hearing my Mother say shit, always made me stop and take heed. My parents seldom used foul language in our home, and shit was a pretty "dirty" word. She generally used "crap", so this one certainly made it's point. Again, this moral,perhaps has lost its shine. I see people shitting where they eat, all the time, and...they seem to come out smelling pretty damn rosey. When I was given this tidbit, it was because my Mother tried to teach me, to leave my personal (home) life outside my workplace door. She always told me, to keep job and life separate. As I have aged, I see the importance of this. I understand, work should not rule one's whole life. To find peace, and relaxation, one must be able to separate, something I often find a struggle. But, shitting where you eat, basically means, don't mix business with pleasure, because this will cause some pretty huge potholes. Maybe messing about with a co-worker at the annual Christmas party, and then surprise..you have to go back and spend the rest of the year attempting to deal with the ramifications. Maybe telling your boss something very personal, and then having to face them day after day, knowing they know far too much about you. Fellow employees and employers, are not always the best choice for social partners, because......so much rides on how you get along.
Oh don't get me wrong, I consider some of my fellow employees friends..LOL..you know who you are, and that hasn't changed, some days are better than others, but I do need you in my life. I simply mean, do NOT try and mix work and what a person needs outside the daily grind, to find peace and relaxation, and that time that is suppose to be your profit from working so hard. When your job becomes your life, what exactly are you working for?
I have been feeling like there is an awful lot of farting going on where I eat. I am not quite sure what I have been eating, that is causing this gas. But...I still want butter on my bread. I need to have the cement barricade lifting off my shoulders, and cut back on whatever shit I have been nibbling on. I know what is important in my world, and I am finally going to listen to my Mother! Bring on the Butter, and the Bread, I want the things I once had,the things that made my job, perhaps not so much enjoyable, but certainly not dreadful. I want to be able to laugh, and spoon that butter in big gobs, on thick pieces of bread, with those who matter most..my friends, and my family.
It is well past time to have a picnic, to eat where there are no piles of shit, to find peace and relaxation, and enjoy the butter, after our hard work!
I recently made the decision to cut back my work days. One would imagine scrubbing toilets is a pretty menial job, with very little thought process needed. Well, the actual scrubbing procedure is very basic, but, somehow, outside issues worm their way into even a simple job, and one begins scrubbing a toilet with the weight of a cement barricade resting on their shoulders.
I started working at a fairly young age, in a job that required some thought process. I was also required to dress appropriately, be friendly, and helpful. Those were what my employee expected. There were a whole lot more rules handed out by my parents. My Mother had a whack of morals that she would hand out on a daily basis to me. I guess I will share some of these with the world, as, like Aesop's fables, a lot of my view of how I live my life, has been based on these snippets.
One of the most heard.."remember who butters your bread". Now those butter'ers were at one time, my parents, and my boss. Without them, my bread would be pretty dry,and hard to swallow, geez, without my parents, I wouldn't even have bread!! I use that to this day. I may not agree with everything my employer does, but....they are the ones who slap the butter on my bread twice a month.This saying is not limited to a job, it suits life, as a whole. Some say to "remember which side the bread is buttered". If one looks about, and can clearly see who supports them, who gives them friendship, love, and makes life a better place, then, one must always remember, they provide the butter..butter is one of my favourite things, along with chips and, of course, bacon!
One of the other sayings.."don't shit where you eat". Hellooooo...along with the "piss pot out the upstairs window" hearing my Mother say shit, always made me stop and take heed. My parents seldom used foul language in our home, and shit was a pretty "dirty" word. She generally used "crap", so this one certainly made it's point. Again, this moral,perhaps has lost its shine. I see people shitting where they eat, all the time, and...they seem to come out smelling pretty damn rosey. When I was given this tidbit, it was because my Mother tried to teach me, to leave my personal (home) life outside my workplace door. She always told me, to keep job and life separate. As I have aged, I see the importance of this. I understand, work should not rule one's whole life. To find peace, and relaxation, one must be able to separate, something I often find a struggle. But, shitting where you eat, basically means, don't mix business with pleasure, because this will cause some pretty huge potholes. Maybe messing about with a co-worker at the annual Christmas party, and then surprise..you have to go back and spend the rest of the year attempting to deal with the ramifications. Maybe telling your boss something very personal, and then having to face them day after day, knowing they know far too much about you. Fellow employees and employers, are not always the best choice for social partners, because......so much rides on how you get along.
Oh don't get me wrong, I consider some of my fellow employees friends..LOL..you know who you are, and that hasn't changed, some days are better than others, but I do need you in my life. I simply mean, do NOT try and mix work and what a person needs outside the daily grind, to find peace and relaxation, and that time that is suppose to be your profit from working so hard. When your job becomes your life, what exactly are you working for?
I have been feeling like there is an awful lot of farting going on where I eat. I am not quite sure what I have been eating, that is causing this gas. But...I still want butter on my bread. I need to have the cement barricade lifting off my shoulders, and cut back on whatever shit I have been nibbling on. I know what is important in my world, and I am finally going to listen to my Mother! Bring on the Butter, and the Bread, I want the things I once had,the things that made my job, perhaps not so much enjoyable, but certainly not dreadful. I want to be able to laugh, and spoon that butter in big gobs, on thick pieces of bread, with those who matter most..my friends, and my family.
It is well past time to have a picnic, to eat where there are no piles of shit, to find peace and relaxation, and enjoy the butter, after our hard work!
Sunday, 16 November 2014
Anti-Everything, Pro-Everything
I recently read an article, that is popping up all over Facebook. The title was Anti-Everything. It, of course was a rant on those who are attempting to slow down LNG, to slow down hydro-electric projects, etc. It appears when someone attempts to put a halt to anything, they suddenly become ANTI.
I wonder, do I come across ANTI everything? If I do, I am not expressing myself properly. I am not against everything in regard to natural resources. I also do not believe most of those who are speaking up to try and stop huge projects, are also, anti everything.
Why are folks labelled anti when they ask questions? If the answers to the questions were given, and made,....wait for it....common sense, most average citizens would be willing to accept. The problem is, questions are NOT answered, the only words given are money amounts. Money, great as it is, often does not offer a return of what is sold, and selling is exactly what all of this anti-pro everything is all about.
Our government is selling off what belongs to all of us, the treasure, in and on the land, and water, the very substance that gives us the ability to call ourselves British Columbians. These treasures are NOT the government's to give, they belong to the people..pro, anti, and yes....those in the middle. Our government has somehow managed to split the population, to drag racism up from the hole it was buried in, and to make enemies out of neighbours. If one person does not like the idea of losing what they enjoy, so that a couple of other folks can make a quick fortune, they are branded anti-progress.
Again, I state, I am not against progress, I fought in a battle about 10 years ago,in a small group, for progress. I believed in what I was fighting for, my choice, my personal opinion. If I heard a statement regarding H2S, and how it might kill off bus loads of students, unknowingly driving past a sudden sour well, I went on-line, and did some studying. Hey, they could have been right, and I wasn't going to simply accept either side..I took my time. I am not an expert on what I fought for, however, I do know some facts, and that..that is what some of us are asking for!
I want facts on why all of this is necessary, and why it is moving along too quick for my personal comfort. I want a chance to study up, and weigh both sides, so I can see for myself where I want to stand on things.
I do not want my stance to be based on Crusty's minions warning that if we do not rush into this, we are going to be sorry, and we will lose out on any chance of profit. We won't lose. Crusty has given everything that has come across her desk the golden seal of approval, so that whatever money is possible, will drop into the coffers on her watch. Then, of course, she can almost guarantee another stab at her position, because look what she did for us!!
Do any of you know how much money comes from the area I live in? Oil and Gas abounds here, and all these companies pay a hefty price to our government. What are they doing with all of that money? Do you see a huge increase in benefits because of all that money that was not there, say 10 years ago? We certainly don't see diddly squat!! We have sh*t a$$ health care, that is getting worse by the moment, we have education shortages, we have pi$$ poor highways, and pi$$ poor ambulance service, but..there is this enormous amount of money coming from right next door to our homes.
Now we are suppose to believe, if we accept even more pipelines, and yes, a huge Hydro project, suddenly our government is going to have a ton of spare money to hand over all that we have not seen yet. Sorry...I certainly wasn't born yesterday!! It seems each time the government gets a whack of cash, the cost of everything rises, to suck that cash right up.
That is why I seem to be on the ANTI side. I am not jumping into any of this, without checking outside the box. I am sick and tired of some feeling that those who question are whiners, and green, and hippies, and welfare bums, and hypocrites.
When the world stops questioning, and everything government wants, is done, lickitty split, we will be in some serious trouble. Those folks sitting in areas that are just on the verge on all this exciting oil and gas, are rubbing their hands together with the thoughts that they are going to benefit. Oh, oil and gas companies don't litter, they don't drink, they don't do drugs, they have strict rules. Ki$$ my butt!! They are NO different than any other frigging huge company. They have their share of f*ck-ups, they are just human!!
No drugs!! That is the one thing I can speak from experience! You would be blown away by the amount of drugs!! No drinking,,,get real!! No littering..grow a brain!! To blindly spew how perfect oil and gas is, is just as stupid as stating rig rats are all dirty pigs. That is a lie as well. Many rig rats work so damn hard, they don't have time to do anything else, they barely get time to sleep. Some of the cleanest guests we have had in the hotel are drillers, and rig labourers. Some of them are the most polite, and thoughtful guys I have met. I have actually attempted to contact a drill company to tell them how amazing their crew was. But...on the other hand, some of the filthiest, drug users have been the pipeliners. So...reality is, they are companies, staffed by all walks of life. If some of you figure they will pour into your area, never blow a stop sign, never drop an empty on the side of the road, or you will have instead, nothing but drunks, snorting up behind the bushes, and grabbing all the local females, get a grip.
However, I suppose there are only two sides to all of this, pro and anti. No one is allowed to do some research, and no questions are to be answered, because that is only stopping progress. Those who must change their way of life, those who will be impacted, should simply swallow, and suck it up, otherwise they are anti! Those who have decided the price is worth what they feel they will reap, and willing to rush blindly in without a care, because they feel they can walk away without effect, they are the pros.
There is, no matter how those pros feel, a third group, those who try and keep an open mind, those who just want to pause and check facts out. Those who have questions that dollar amounts don't answer. Those who feel the future deserves a few moments of the present, a bit of due diligence, to ensure those who follow, are not left with a mess. We just want to make sure we do things to the best of our ability, not as quickly as possible, because jobs that are done too quickly, often miss some pretty important spots. Maybe we are the "special" ones, the slow learners, the ones sitting on the fence, waiting to see which side looks the best. Give us some time, we will figure it out at some point, but, we need our own group for just awhile longer. We are simply the "Check- Everything"group.
I wonder, do I come across ANTI everything? If I do, I am not expressing myself properly. I am not against everything in regard to natural resources. I also do not believe most of those who are speaking up to try and stop huge projects, are also, anti everything.
Why are folks labelled anti when they ask questions? If the answers to the questions were given, and made,....wait for it....common sense, most average citizens would be willing to accept. The problem is, questions are NOT answered, the only words given are money amounts. Money, great as it is, often does not offer a return of what is sold, and selling is exactly what all of this anti-pro everything is all about.
Our government is selling off what belongs to all of us, the treasure, in and on the land, and water, the very substance that gives us the ability to call ourselves British Columbians. These treasures are NOT the government's to give, they belong to the people..pro, anti, and yes....those in the middle. Our government has somehow managed to split the population, to drag racism up from the hole it was buried in, and to make enemies out of neighbours. If one person does not like the idea of losing what they enjoy, so that a couple of other folks can make a quick fortune, they are branded anti-progress.
Again, I state, I am not against progress, I fought in a battle about 10 years ago,in a small group, for progress. I believed in what I was fighting for, my choice, my personal opinion. If I heard a statement regarding H2S, and how it might kill off bus loads of students, unknowingly driving past a sudden sour well, I went on-line, and did some studying. Hey, they could have been right, and I wasn't going to simply accept either side..I took my time. I am not an expert on what I fought for, however, I do know some facts, and that..that is what some of us are asking for!
I want facts on why all of this is necessary, and why it is moving along too quick for my personal comfort. I want a chance to study up, and weigh both sides, so I can see for myself where I want to stand on things.
I do not want my stance to be based on Crusty's minions warning that if we do not rush into this, we are going to be sorry, and we will lose out on any chance of profit. We won't lose. Crusty has given everything that has come across her desk the golden seal of approval, so that whatever money is possible, will drop into the coffers on her watch. Then, of course, she can almost guarantee another stab at her position, because look what she did for us!!
Do any of you know how much money comes from the area I live in? Oil and Gas abounds here, and all these companies pay a hefty price to our government. What are they doing with all of that money? Do you see a huge increase in benefits because of all that money that was not there, say 10 years ago? We certainly don't see diddly squat!! We have sh*t a$$ health care, that is getting worse by the moment, we have education shortages, we have pi$$ poor highways, and pi$$ poor ambulance service, but..there is this enormous amount of money coming from right next door to our homes.
Now we are suppose to believe, if we accept even more pipelines, and yes, a huge Hydro project, suddenly our government is going to have a ton of spare money to hand over all that we have not seen yet. Sorry...I certainly wasn't born yesterday!! It seems each time the government gets a whack of cash, the cost of everything rises, to suck that cash right up.
That is why I seem to be on the ANTI side. I am not jumping into any of this, without checking outside the box. I am sick and tired of some feeling that those who question are whiners, and green, and hippies, and welfare bums, and hypocrites.
When the world stops questioning, and everything government wants, is done, lickitty split, we will be in some serious trouble. Those folks sitting in areas that are just on the verge on all this exciting oil and gas, are rubbing their hands together with the thoughts that they are going to benefit. Oh, oil and gas companies don't litter, they don't drink, they don't do drugs, they have strict rules. Ki$$ my butt!! They are NO different than any other frigging huge company. They have their share of f*ck-ups, they are just human!!
No drugs!! That is the one thing I can speak from experience! You would be blown away by the amount of drugs!! No drinking,,,get real!! No littering..grow a brain!! To blindly spew how perfect oil and gas is, is just as stupid as stating rig rats are all dirty pigs. That is a lie as well. Many rig rats work so damn hard, they don't have time to do anything else, they barely get time to sleep. Some of the cleanest guests we have had in the hotel are drillers, and rig labourers. Some of them are the most polite, and thoughtful guys I have met. I have actually attempted to contact a drill company to tell them how amazing their crew was. But...on the other hand, some of the filthiest, drug users have been the pipeliners. So...reality is, they are companies, staffed by all walks of life. If some of you figure they will pour into your area, never blow a stop sign, never drop an empty on the side of the road, or you will have instead, nothing but drunks, snorting up behind the bushes, and grabbing all the local females, get a grip.
However, I suppose there are only two sides to all of this, pro and anti. No one is allowed to do some research, and no questions are to be answered, because that is only stopping progress. Those who must change their way of life, those who will be impacted, should simply swallow, and suck it up, otherwise they are anti! Those who have decided the price is worth what they feel they will reap, and willing to rush blindly in without a care, because they feel they can walk away without effect, they are the pros.
There is, no matter how those pros feel, a third group, those who try and keep an open mind, those who just want to pause and check facts out. Those who have questions that dollar amounts don't answer. Those who feel the future deserves a few moments of the present, a bit of due diligence, to ensure those who follow, are not left with a mess. We just want to make sure we do things to the best of our ability, not as quickly as possible, because jobs that are done too quickly, often miss some pretty important spots. Maybe we are the "special" ones, the slow learners, the ones sitting on the fence, waiting to see which side looks the best. Give us some time, we will figure it out at some point, but, we need our own group for just awhile longer. We are simply the "Check- Everything"group.
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