Waiting For Spring.....

Waiting....

Waiting....

Waiting....

Tired Of Waiting.....

Not Waiting!

Because there's work to be done!

Clearing the trails of downed tree branches after all that snow.
 

Out into the woods to cut heavy tree boughs blocking the trails.

Hard work.

Back breaking work.  

But someone has to do it. 

And someone has to take the pictures.

And this was before the recent blizzard.  I can only imagine what this place looks like now.

The first snow lay heavy on the tree boughs.  Then a rain came and froze the boughs, almost as in a protective layer over the snow.

But it added tremendous weight.  Virtually all of the trees branches sagged very low.  Obscuring any trail markings.  And perhaps permanently damaging the branches if it remains there too long.  As it did during the 1999 ice storm.

And with the recent storm, it may not be going any time soon......

But right now, certainly a winter wonderland.

Perfect for Christmas.

Canada Ain't Much Better

Further to this morning's post,

Here is a look at a Canadian "family", using Canadian national numbers, but adjusted to the same family income;

So we're in debt, too.

But not nearly like our southern brethren.

But we are certainly trying our best to keep up with the Obama's!

US Fiscal Cliff - Some Perspective

Blah, blah, blah.  Big numbers and bigger numbers.

So let's remove 8 zero's from the above and pretend it's a household budget.

Yikes.  That family is out of control!

But do they have a revenue problem or a spending problem?  You be the judge. (Spending = red line, Revenue = blue line)

Looks like their spending knows no bounds.

Some pundits say now is not the time to stop spending.  They say that government must stimulate the economy to get it back on track.

That would mean projects for which you never had money during the good times magically become affordable when you are broke.

"Honey, good news.  Our credit card is maxed out.  We can now go on that European vacation!"

Above are the major components of U.S. spending.

[The bulk of the Treasury spending is interest on their debt.]

 And I just couldn't resist a little editorializing......

Looks like Pappa Obama and the kids are heading to Europe!  Maybe they are going to visit like minded relatives in Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

[First two charts are from the website bitsandpieces.us, via a friend's Facebook page]

"What A Difference Five Years Make"

Five years after her assassination, Benazir Bhutto's son has decided to launch his political career.

That's not a job I would want.

Of course, five years ago, he didn't want it either.  And for good reason. 

See You Also Heard This Here First for an amazing - at the time - prediction that he would rather party than head up a party and get shot at regularly.

And from the above pic, this looks more like a guy going "...hoo boy...." than "I am here to lead you to greatness!".

Good luck, Bilawal!

Always A Catch!

 The very swanky Cafe Lurcat now has a dinner special. 

Three course dinner for $25.  And half price bottles of wine!

But crap, only on bottles under $100.  Damn!

And you know how much I like those $200 bottles.

This may not be the place for me.  And not for the above reason.....

They Grow 'em Tough Down In Florida

The kids, that is.

I'd be screaming like a little......well, not like a little girl, I guess.......

[Seen while on a recent trip.]

How's That Workin' For You?

You have to wonder, if this is your idea of a good costume choice - at about thirty years old - and smiling - maybe things aren't working out just the way you had planned.

"Hey guys, you forgot to call me about last night!"

To save her further embarassment, I didn't show the next costume where she is smiling as Minnie Mouse.

None Of The Other Valves Can Stand Him

Close Enough for Government Work

 "We just do what we're told.  We're not paid to think."

This would be funny if it wasn't true.

You think somebody might have said; "Time out, here guys.  Do you think we should call somebody before we go ahead?" 

No, just means more work when they have to remove it.  Which they have now done.

C'mon, man!

And on a related topic, how many government employees does it take to install a door?

Five that I can see here.

But there are probably a couple more in the truck drinking Timmy's.

And you wonder why we never have enough tax money to do anything....

"Equally"

Not all points are equal.  But they not created equally.

C'mon, man!

You'd think i) their fancy ad department would know proper grammar and ii) it wouldn't have to be pointed out by an inguneer.

No Truer Words.....

How appropriate for Canada's big cultural weekend, the 100^th anniversary of our Grey Cup.

[Double Click to learn about the real Canada.]

Thanks to the E Man for this graphic.......

Decisions, Decisions......

Draught list at The Rebel house.

Only local Ontario craft brews are listed here.

My personal favourite is the Naughty Otter.  I'm going to suggest a name change to Arnotti Otter.

While I'm waiting, if you need more thirst quenching, I suggest the "single can" shelf at The Beer Store.

These big boys make tall cans look like Tetley Tea.  750 ml's of fun in a can.

I should have had my hand in the pic to give perspective.

Just a second.....

Little help here...........

Now We're Talking!

From now on I am only drinking beer - dirty beer - out of toughened glasses.

And they better use extra nucleation. You heard me.

And, of course, they must be conical.

We Have A Winner.....

 ....in the battle of "Man versus Mother Nature".

We all know that Sandy walloped the eastern seaboard of the US.  But she even took a good bite out of the Toronto ravines.

We encountered a lot of detours on a recent decent into the cool interior of hidden Toronto.

Just makes you take pause to consider who is really boss here.

We are but visitors for a short time......

I Know How That Feels....

I mean.....I can only imagine how that feels......

Now although I've never dated a "Sandy", I can guess she'd be a real tiger.

This is actually the result of a fire that couldn't be put out because of Superstorm Sandy.  So almost the same thing.

Great News!

 

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is being sued for $6 million for allegedly libeling a local restaurateur.

And unlike the rest of our legal system where you are innocent until proven guilty, according to legal experts - at least legal experts interviewed by the Toronto Star - you are assumed guilty unless you can prove that you didn't libel anyone.

Fantastic!

Next time someone calls me a jerk, [Ed. Note: shouldn't take long] ruining my reputation [Ed. Note: horse is long gone] I'll be slapping a  million dollar lawsuit on their skinny butt.

And they'll have to prove they didn't impugn my reputation.

It is definitely impugned - for multiple reasons.

But according to our legal system, you'll be needing to prove it wasn't 'cause of you.

I figure if just 5% of them stick, I'll be sitting pretty.

Of course, it'll all the usual suspects ganging on the mayor at this stage.

I'm hoping I may get to try out my new strategy if I get any comments on this.....

Toronto Style

Okay, so it's no Gangnam Style, but the official Toronto Meridian is tucked away here in a corner of the University of Toronto.

This is the true North-South direction in Toronto.

So if you ever think you are going in the wrong direction, just pop over to the U of T to straighten yourself out.

Okay, One More....

["Mutts" cartoons the inspired creation of Patrick McDonnell] 

Okay, last one about my Mom.

Then back to regular griping and moaning.....

["Mutts" cartoons the inspired creation of Patrick McDonnell] 

Doris Annetta Arnott 1915 - 2012

I will miss her terribly.

This Can't Be True...

Government officials are stunned that crackheads are asking for more free crackpipes than they expected, when they started their Hey-we'll-give-you-as-many-free-crackpipes-as-you-like program.

An unexpected side benefit, however, is an increase in local entrepreneurship; "Hey, I'm in the crackpipe sales business."  Apparently several of the 97,000 pipes have been resold by by budding businessmen.

You don't have to make this stuff up.  Way to go, Vancouver. 

They are hoping to expand the program by offering all the free crack you want to go in those pipes. [Okay, maybe you have to make some of it up.]