I met an ‘old salt’ last week who has spent 45 years working ships around the world. I was teasing him about a girl in every port and he said, “ah, once you get married, you are only allowed look-at girlfriends!”
I choose Lexa Doig.
“Look-at” girlfriends Sunday, November 30, 2003
4.5 KVA Generator Saturday, November 29, 2003
With the wind forecast to reach 90+ Km over the next little while I am reminded that I have a spare generator that is just taking up space. It is old and ugly and used to belong to the telcohead company so it is probably haunted. It has served me well for 10 years and has no problem running my complete home.
Here are the details:
Due my own laziness I did not start it periodically and when I went to use it I blew a fuse which caused it to fail to start and perhaps other problems in the control box. While I am fairly handy with this sort of stuff, it is old and ugly and I decided to get a new genset. I am told that there is nothing difficult or expensive about fixing the old one.
If someone is in need of a standby generator this one is available. If I know and trust you (a short list) come and get it. If you get it working to your satisfaction give me $300. If I don’t know you or trust you, come and get it and give me $300. If you do not get it working to your satisfaction bring it back and I will give you back your $300.
If you are one of the few with whom I refuse to have any commercial transaction - it is not available. 
This is not a ‘toy generator’. It will take a pick-up truck and 3 strong people to move it. It was used by the telcoheads on their truck to power their AC equipment and is designed to run for many hours.
Woes and warranties Friday, November 28, 2003
Cyn and visitors have been discussing extended warranties available at Future Shop. What most consumers are not aware of is that all of these box stores have already bought and paid for the extended warranty on everything in the store.
They purchase the warranty from an independent company and pay a premium based on a percentage of their inventory value. The last one I say was 1% of inventory as premium. I suspect that will have increased significantly since I last saw the details. They then re-sell the warranty at a much higher rate.
At least one large local box store once mentioned that the largest single source of revenue in their operation was resale of warranty.
Good grief Friday, November 28, 2003
Just looked at one of the referring search items..it seems that someone found their way here on the search string “monster tit gallery”. Sheech!
My god it is Friday Friday, November 28, 2003
A lost week. Friend in the hospital, 3 day visit from business friends from Montreal and discovering a new friend who serves beer, wine, shrimp cocktail and raw oysters for lunch. Time to get some blood back in my alcohol.
My daughter, my hero Sunday, November 23, 2003
Here Rob was expressing despair about some of the things he is seeing in youth. I was speaking to my daughter last week about Rob’s comments and statistics. My Cyn has chosen a path as a parent that does not fit with conventional wisdom.
Her daughter was born at home with her closest friends, her husband and her midwife. She has chosen a holistic approach to heath - with a more conventional intervention if needed. 30 minutes after Helen Rose was born, she was snuggled in bed with Mom and Dad, who were sharing a glass of wine with the people they love. Immediately after her birth, Rose was laying on her Dad’s chest while Mom got cleaned up. She has slept with her parents for the first 7 months and has never had a moment of fear in her life. Today, she went swimming for her first time (8 months old.)
My Cyn told me she had read just about all the books available on parenting. She said she never saw the one thing that she has lived by.
Love your child every minute of every day - especially when they might have been naughty and you don’t think they deserve it
Can it be that simple?
Bruce Rainee Sunday, November 23, 2003
I do not wish to come across as a self-professed guru of everything so with a HUGE in my opinion (and with apologies to visitors from away who will have no idea what I am talking about) - I like this guy’s style. He is presenting our stories and news with authority, intelligence, character and style. I am enjoying the mischievous glint in his eye that makes me think he has just heard a joke and wants to share it. What a welcome and refreshing change.
I find the good natured banter between he and Kevin Gallant (I just can’t bring myself to call an adult Boomer) amusing. Roger and Kevin could pull it off - almost as if they were sharing a joke that we did not know - but we still laughed. Bruce is doing it too.
Can you imagine how good Canada Now would be with Bruce Rainee and Sally Pitt as co-anchors?
Oh damnit Saturday, November 22, 2003
I went to the Human Society ‘dog day’ sort of an informal activity where you take your dog (if you wish) and go and hang out with a lot of other dogs. It is fun watching and meeting all sorts of goofy dogs (and people). Looking across the yard I see one of my least favourite people. Big florid face guy, loud and obnoxious, always in your face - one of those guys that you just know was born a jerk, is a jerk and will die a jerk. Worst case of obnoxious personality disorder I have ever encountered. Get the message - I don’t care for this jerk - have not cared for him for 25 years.
Whoops - what is this? He is squatting on the ground playing with and overweight and obviously aged dog. I can’t stand it and walk over to say g’day. He introduces me to his dog and to his other dog sitting quietly at his side. He then tells me that he very seldom will come near the Humane Society because if he does he ends up taking home a few dogs, getting them healthy, vet checked and then finds them homes.
Damnit - 25 years of not liking this guy and he goes and tells me this.
Sorry Aliant Saturday, November 22, 2003
Fellow weather obsessives Saturday, November 22, 2003
Just to see if I can improve on our local forecasting I have added a link to your left to my own compilation of weather data.