Death & taxes....both are certain

Ahhhhhhhh, the HST referendum.  Should we say yes to keeping it, or no & scrap it? (Or is it no to keeping it and yes to scrapping it??)  As my best friend said......the only thing harder than figuring out which box to check is the order of the envelopes (3 in total) in which you have to stuff your ballot into!

We still have to pay taxes.  That point is certain.

I read a particularly great blog on the subject where the author (click for link here) brings up some pretty strong points. One of which is, and I quote:  "Just because the government forced HST upon us, doesn't mean we need to vote it away". Well said!

Let's face it.  No one likes the way the Liberals forced the HST down our throats.  We were never consulted and we never had a chance to voice our opinions otherwise.  Until now.  Which I am afraid, is a bit too late, as it now swings the power to the influential fear mongers who will tell people that this is a horrible tax and it's going to cost them money to keep it.

News flash....it's going to cost us money to get rid of it!  Lots of money.  Not only the money we have to pay back to the federal government (1.6 Billion!!) but the cost of setting up all of those departments that were streamlined and re-hiring people back to implement 2 taxes.

Another thing I find interesting is that the "scrap the HST" debate is largely lead by people with NDP leanings.  People who want (indeed feel entitled)  every social program known to man.  Tell me....how do you expect to pay for all of these things??  Health care, social housing, education, social assistance.  It takes money and the money has got to come from somewhere!

So let's just move on and get this over with quickly.  Use some common sense.........death & taxes....both are certain.......vote NO to getting rid of the HST.  

Oh....and don't forget to actually mail in your ballots if you are in favour of keeping it.  You know the ones who want to get rid of the HST will.  And if you are one of the people who wish to scrap the HST.....feel free to forget your ballot on the counter.  :-)

GermanG

So, you call yourself a driving instructor!

Yesterday was a horrible day.  Me, the driving instructor, ran over the beloved family pet in the driveway!

Before I resume the rest of the story, I will tell you that he is OK.  (Insert sigh of relief here) How do you run over your own dog in your own driveway you ask?

Here's the thing.  For approx. 9 years Bandit has lain in the driveway.  For approx. 9 years, he has always moved when I am backing in or driving out........always! So, walking around the car and looking (as I teach my students) likely would not have changed much that evening, as I would have started the car, thought he would move and then drove off as per usual. Only the "usual" did not occur!

My  son and I left and immediately I noticed that something didn't sound quite right.  As I was slowing down, the dog yelped.  I was instantly sick to my stomach and I realized what I had just done.  I jumped out and screamed for my husband to help.

Here was poor Bandit, trapped under the car.  Thankfully, he was only pinned under the carriage of the vehicle.  I had not actually run over him!   I am sitting on the steps, my son is rubbing my back and I am crying.  (At this point my son says, "This is interesting.  The one who likes the dog the least is crying the most!"  Thank you son....thank you so much for your words of "encouragement")  The hubby comes to the rescue with a hydrolic jack and frees poor Bandit. Off he runs.......I breathe a sigh of relief.  I haven't killed him!

But, he looks at me with eyes that say, "You tried to kill me, I trust you not"!  He retreats to his doghouse  and stares....eyes accusing.  Once again, I am sick to my stomach.  How do you speak to a creature that does not speak your language.  Ah!  I bribe him.  A hotdog, piece of bacon, dog treat......all accepted.....but the accusation doesn't go away.  "I know what you are doing", they say, "but I still don't trust you"!  Will this shame ever end!

Thank goodness a dog's memory is not a lengthy one.    The morning comes and when I let him out of the garage (I should say that I was going to let him sleep in the house, but he wanted to part of being in close proximity of me) he bounds out, the previous day apparently behind him. Yes!  Redemption!

Today all seems well in the pet/owner world.  Though I did notice that when I backed into the driveway........the dog was no where to be seen!

GermanG

Where's the "luck" in potluck??

I dislike potlucks.  Dinner, lunches.......doesn't matter, I am not overly keen on them.  They can be loud, noisy environments in which you have no control over what you can eat and who you are sitting next to.  But, above all else, it's the apparent lack of "potluck etiquette" that drives me nuts!

Let me set the scenario.  The place is packed. There seems to be enough food for everyone.  The table is overflowing, anticipation is in the air as table by table the masses start filing.  I don't really care if I am the first or the last.....I mean, really, what's the rush.  There is plenty of food for all. I chat, I wait and then I look up from my table...........

First off, where are some children's parents??  I was always taught, take a bit of food first, there are others behind you.  You can always go back for 2nds after everyone has had a chance to serve themselves. It's the way I raised my kids.  But then I look again........wait a minute.....would you look at the mound of food.....now I see where Junior gets it from!

Now don't get me wrong, it's not about the food for me.  It's about the etiquette.  I was recently at a well-planned, civilized potluck where everyone behaved themselves and there was plenty of food left over.  I actually find that the smaller the event, the more control.  What agitates me is the apparent "famine mentally" that overtakes some people and the ensuing "scraps" that are left behind for people further down the line.  Like if they don't pile it on now, they will never eat another meal!

The most interesting thing about this is the church potluck.  I will make an open disclaimer that not everyone in the church is like this, but some people have no problem pointing out other peoples sins. Look at so & so......they smoke, or live with someone, or are dating a non-christian (insert any other "sin" that people are so ready to point out) but do they not see that piling food sky high is greed & gluttony.  Last time I looked, that was a sin!

 I guess what I am trying to say is look behind you.  Look at the plate in front of you.  Have concern for your fellow man.  Be respectful and take only what you need.....not what you want before the next guy gets there.  Perhaps if we all did that, then there would be food left over that we could take to a needy family that really could use it!

GermanG

I love my dad

My dad is amazing!  He can be very opinionated (surely where I get it from!) but it's always with love and concern for myself and my family.  And he's is a funny guy.

My dad is the type of person in a crowd that draws the laughs.  He is outgoing and has a great sense of humour, able to pull a punchline out of thin air when needed.  He is also able to laugh at himself.  This is an admirable trait as many people can dish it out, but they cannot take it.  When something funny happens to him, he always says, "Remember this one for the funeral.....I want people to laugh"!

There was this time as a teenager when I reluctantly had to help dear old dad do some chores.  I can't remember the exact details, but I do remember it required him to reach into the back of the truck canopy.  In and out he went passing whatever it was to me, to be dutifully brought into the house.  I do remember that it was morning and his PJ's were on.  After a few trips, I got some crazy idea that I should "pants" dear old dad.  The next reach in.....whip......those PJ's fly to his ankles, having no idea that he wasn't wearing underwear (I am still a bit scarred from that vision).  Dad hits his head on the top of the canopy and then topples in forward so now he's kind of stuck there, balls to the breeze.  I am in hysterics rolling around on the driveway.......the effect was more than I could have hoped for.  Dad was not impressed.  Some weeks later he was able to chuckle.  Shortly after our neighbors directly across the street split up.   To this day dad blames the "pantsing" incident saying that once his wife got a look at a real man, she just couldn't stay with her husband.  LOL

The other thing that comes to mind is a recent camping trip we went on where dad brought a starter pistol to use as a bear banger on their walks.  It was loud and it was effective and our dog did not like the noise of it. After supper one day the hubby and dad decide to take another stroll.  The sun was still out so my daughter and I decide to get some last minute rays by the water.  We hear a shot, the dog comes back.......nothing.  About a half hour later my daughter asks if we should be concerned that we heard gunfire and no one has returned.  Give it a bit I say....besides we have about an hour of sun left. 

Sure enough they return, but dad and the hubby are chuckling the whole way.  You tell them, dad says.  Apparently, as the story goes,dad had blanks and tear gas canisters for the starter pistol.  He was unaware that he had grabbed a tear gas canister.  Out comes a bear, dad shoots and a puff of bluish smoke wafts in his direction.  The hubby wonders what is going on as dad drops to the ground writhing in pain, tears streaming from his eyes.  Dad recovers and starts marveling at his stupidity, filling in the blanks for Gene.  Once again, a directive is given that this one must make it into the story books for the funeral!

I believe I have my dad's sense of humor and the ability to laugh at myself.  I think it's a wonderful trait to inherit and will not only honor dad's wishes when (in hopefully what will be quite a few years) he passes, but request my family to do the same.

I love my dad.

German G

The "concept" of time

My husband doesn't have any concept of time.  Not the minute to minute, hour by hour time.  But the months & years time.  Often he will relate a story to me when I not only have to say, sorry wrong girlfriend, but inform him that it was indeed not 3 years ago when he went to Penticton, but more than 16.....the number of years we have been together.  His reply: Hmmmmm, I suppose it was. 

The other day I purchased new coffee and end tables.  Love them, they look fantastic.......much more modern than the last set and with legs that properly support the top of the table.  We bring them in, set them up and proceed to take the old ones apart.  I tell him that the coffee table is unrepairable and it can be chopped up and burned (it has already been repaired multiple times by the hubby, previous to it's demise).  He says to me with a rather indignant tone: Why not chop up and burn the end tables, too?  No, I reply, they are perfectly fine (hideous, but functional) and besides our son can use them when he goes off to college.  Why bother, he says, you will probably just buy new ones again closer to when he moves out and he can could have the ones you just bought.

Now, I don't know whether to take this as a dig that I bought new tables or that he thinks the large table is actually still in good repair and I just wasted $400.  But then it comes to me.....he has once again lost track of time.  So I fill in the details with my reply:  These tables are almost 16 years old, dear.  That would make our son 30 by the time I get another set and I hope to God he is not still living at home with us!

We have had them for almost 16 years??????

He really has no concept of time.

GermanG

"A Fantastic Day for Everyone!"

On Sunday my son summed the day up 100% correctly.  He said: What a fantastic day for everyone.  I made some money, dad and "J" caught their limit fishing and you shot a bear (as well as shenanigans at Telegraph Cove with G & K)!

I did indeed shoot a bear......my first.  A small one by "man standards".  I know this because it did not exceed 500 lbs and every male on the planet made a comment on the fact that it looked more like a dog than a bear.  Funny!

I am intensely proud though.  After all, C and I went without the menfolk and combed the hillside for the entire day (with a small break to dine with friends at Telegraph Cove).  I was exhausted and had enough when on the way C says, "Bet you we will see one when we are just about at the highway".  And what happens........

Very shortly before we are about to embark on the home stretch, 2 bears come lumbering across the road!  Woop, woop!

Out we hop, me with gun and C with camera and binoculars in hand.  Both the bears had ran into the bush so I went over to get a better look.  I figure it was the male I heard because at this point it challenges me to back off with a resounding "woof" and I go back to the safety of the truck.  We wait.

Sure enough they trot across the road and patience allows me to get my shot.  (Luck allows me to get a 2nd as the 1st shot clearly misses!  Gah!)  Off the bear runs and now I am faced with the prospect that I have wounded a bear.

C and I try to go and see if we can find any blood.  Remember only one of us is armed. We don't see any.  But, as we are wandering around the edge of the forest we hear crashing and both, once again, flee to the shelter of the truck.  As we listen, I am certain that I hear it's final breaths.  Now what?  Remember 2 bears were together, one is dead....where is the other??  I make a decision.

The menfolk had returned from fishing and we are not far from town so I decide to call for back up.  I send a text: Are you available, bring a gun.  I have shot a bear and there were two so now I am scared shitless to go into the woods and get it.  I get a text back: You are where and did what????   I look at my phone....oops.  I text back....wrong number!

A short time later hubby arrives with guns in hand.  J, who doesn't like bears stays in the clearing with his gun.  The hubby, I and C go in.  The womenfolk are chosen to drag the 250 lb bear out of the woods while armed hubby keeps and eye open for possible returning 2nd bear.

We can do this I say to C!  We each grab a leg.....air escapes.....the bear makes a noise....I scream like a girl!  This is perhaps a bit too much for me.  We attempt again.  This time it is C and I grunting the whole way out, not the bear.  I think I can cross this hunting experience off of my bucket list!

As she reaches for her camera C says, pose for a pic.  I oblige.......awesome picture, she says....great cleavage!  Oh my........

All in all it was a great day.  A lot of work resulting in a very late departure to the land of sleep.  But, it does allow me the time to reflect on my life and the people who are in it.  I have a great hubby that will  come to the rescue when I need him to and is very supportive of my hunting endeavors.  I have fantastic friends!   I don't know many women that would traipse around the country side hunting and then help drag a 250 lb bear out when they had nothing to do with the shooting of it. I am blessed with 2 such friends that would do just that. 
J (you were not there but I know you would do it) and C.....you ladies rock!

You may not be outdoorsy....you may even find the idea of hunting offensive.......but yes, my son was right. Sunday was a fantastic day for everyone!

GermanG

Shades of a journal shelved......

It's almost been an entire week since I have blogged!! Aack!  Is my journaling slothfulness rearing it's ugly head or do I simply not have anything of interest to write about?  I think the latter is true.

Though I cannot say my life is boring, many times I don't find it interesting enough to share here.  I mean, if I don't find the past week particularly thrilling......why would cyberspace wish to hear about it.

 I have an endearing little East Indian lady I am teaching to drive at the moment.  The car is filled with humorous moments (such as this) where she is utterly thrilled and in a strong Indian accent shouts, "OMG, OMG....I am driving"!  Did she just text out loud!!??  He, he.....she makes me love my job.  This is what it's all about.  A new immigrant, from a poor family, trying to eek out a living in a "new world", doing things she never had the opportunity to do back home.

I had another student, a Philippino lady, who I taught to drive that has been away from her husband and 2 small children for almost 3 years!  We can't even imagine what that is like, trying to make a better life for yourself and your family....willing to make such sacrifices.  I did tell her though that I would always keep in touch and when her kids became teenagers that disobeyed, I would come round to the house and give them a good "what for" and shame them into upstanding behavior by telling them how hard she word and how many tears she cried when she was away from them.  She smiled.

On a completely random & funny side note, I read the best article online today about a boa constrictor that escaped from someone's home.  It went on to say that their pet ferret was also missing.  Animal control was quoted as saying.....wait for it......"I doubt very much the ferret went willingly."    Bahahaaaaa!!!

I guess I just finished off a post.........the "journal" has come back off of the shelf!  :-)

GermanG

A bit of a Rant......

Duplicity.......can't stand it.  Say what you mean and mean what you say.  That's the kind of parent I am.  Not always liked by the kids, but they always know where they stand with me. It's the kind of person I am....the kind of friend I am.  Don't ask me for "my honest opinion"....unless you want it.

So here are a few things that bother me:

Don't talk behind my back and then smile to my face.  If you don't like me fine....I probably don't like you much either.....I can live with that.

If you are having a crappy day, just say so.  But for goodness sake move on with it.  I have no patience for people who like to play the part of the Martyr....grow up!

Don't ask me if  I have a problem with you when it's you who has the problem with me!  If I have offended you, tell me.  I will probably apologize for it and move on.

When I apologize to you and you accept my apology....mean it.  Don't harbor it and bring it back up 7 months from now.  I would rather hear you say I'm not there yet, than say I accept your apology and deep down you really don't mean it.

Women....stop playing games.  We should be supporting each other, in the workforce and in life.  It's not a competition.  We each have our strengths.....stop tearing other people down to make yourself look better or continually beat yourself up for your weaknesses .....we all have them.....get over it. 

Live, work and play with honesty and integrity.  If you are not a person of integrity....you are nothing.  At the end of the day things we accumulate mean nothing.  It's the person we are and how we are to others that count.

There......I feel much better now.  :-)

GermanG

What do you mean, no?

I am the kind of a person that finds it a challenge when someone says there isn't a way to do something.  Or, you can't change things, it's always been this way.

I am not talking about outright disobedience.  I just can't stand it when people keep bringing the past forward as an example of how it cannot be done today!  Those statements (perhaps rooted in fact) are the very thing that motivate me.  I have always said that I may not be the visionary, but I can be the legs to that vision. Give me a great idea and I will find a way to get it done!

Think of salmon spawning.  Look at the rivers they go up.  Sometimes abundant with water, a mere trickle or perhaps a raging waterfall, whatever the obstacle, they find a way to move upstream when all the odds seems incredibly stacked against them. Some make it, some don't.  The most tenacious achieve their goal. Tenacity is the key to their success!

In our world it takes both tenacity and other like minded people to join together (I am not above batting my eyelids to get the men on board).  :-)  Ordinary people who see a worthwhile project and say, "I like that idea, I will join with you to get this done"!  Look around you in any sized community and you will find hundreds of examples where volunteers banded together to create a project that everyone can enjoy.  It's a beautiful thing!

So, the next time you hear someone say, it can't be done......say to them, "What do you mean , no?" and then show then how to do it!

GermanG