Bob

I believe I'll pass on that one. That's just silly.

I played and sang in a country band briefly and we did some country rock. Does this count? I make my living with my own karaoke business now and still sing a few tunes a night.

I wore fairly thick glasses for most of my life and several years ago, I started going blind with fast developing cataracts. When the doc asked me if I wanted to think about the surgery for a while, I said "Get 'er done!" I figured I was going blind anyway so a few months sooner if he messed up made not much difference to me. I haven't worn glasses since, I guess he hit my prescription pretty close with the implants. I realise not everyone is as lucky as me but there is hope always. Technology is a wondrous thing. I've had laser retinal surgery since as well and milady is currently undergoing a series of retinal laser treatments too. Those guys are getting good at that stuff. Look on the bright side.

Last time I saw frogs on ice was in the mid 70s, but that was a sudden early freeze at the start of the coldest winter I remember. Poor frogs were caught by surprise in early October.

Heh! I was referring to the wasps that nest in the bush. I'm sure that in an urban setting, they'd nest high enough not to be bothered by human activity on the ground. You never know though, from the newscasts the last few years, it seems you get more snow down there than we do up here. About 8 or 10 years ago, we had a total snowfall of over 13 feet through the winter but the last few years, we're nowhere near that. Still looking at green grass in the yard but it was cool enough today that they had the snow making machinery running at the ski hill.

Try reloading the drivers for the sound card even though it says it's working properly. Is it on board sound or a plug in sound card? In either case, you can install a new sound card pretty cheap.

Good morning and Merry hoho to all. We have a house full of grandkids this morning (not up yet). They made their way in from Edmonton yesterday. Not used to it but I'm sure we'll survive. Now I have to go stuff a bird.

Gerrit, I agree with you 100%. More money in treatment than cure. There's a ton of info around on natural cures but they're all played down because big pharma can't patent the stuff. It's all about the bottom line.

I don't think the squirrels know how many nuts they gather and I've read somewhere that they only find and use about half of them. Look for nests of paper wasps and see how high in the bushes they are. Snow doesn't usually get deep enough to bury them. Check the feed beds around beaver houses and you can tell by the size of them how long and cold they expect the winter to be. All kinds of ways but they don't always hold true. The Almanac is more often wrong than right.

Being in entertainment, this is my busy time. I have often worked Christmas eve but this year I got lucky, I'm off after tonight and through until Tuesday. Next week is a different story. I have karaoke parties every night from Wednesday through Saturday, then dj a New Years eve dance and the Legion President's Levee on New Years Day. It's all fun though and I can have a drink on the job. Yeee Haaww. My kiddies are all grown up and doing their own thing for a long time now so we don't even worry about that. Life is good!

Is that whitetail head with the massive non typical rack still hanging in the office there? I remember counting the points on it once (or trying to) but I don't remember how many there were. That was 30 some years ago. I too had one of those boats when I lived in Port Loring.

What's the latest on El Nino anyway? Last I heard, there was one building up but they were speculating that it wouldn't get very strong. Seems like maybe they goofed again with the forecast? I'm not knocking it myself, you don't have to shovel rain.

Here we are just a few days from the official start of winter and when I let the dog out this morning, I see a dew worm on the patio. Now, it's been mild for this time of year but this is ridiculous! This is supposed to be The Great White North, with it's 8 month winter and 4 months of poor sleddin' ya know?

I'm mostly in favour of technology but I liked it when cars were simpler. No computers and sensors to mess up, a screwdriver to adjust the carburettor, you could actually find the spark plugs, a half inch wrench and a good ear to adjust timing and an hour or two in the driveway to do a brake job. Oh yeah, sounds like you have a messed up computer.

None left to speak of here in Elliot Lake and more rain in the forecast.

My husky eats snowshoe bunnies with no ill effects but maybe the difference being they are hares rather than rabbits. Usually, if he catches one, it's gone before I can get to him. Give it up to me? No way!

Born at Toronto East General, raised in Scarborough (Warden & Danforth), spent about 6 years in the Port Loring area and I've been in Elliot Lake now since '79. Love it here.

Yep, and I hate to say for how many years. I even had some lifeguard training many many moons ago.

Tons of trout lakes in the area both north and south of town. East and west too. Heh! If you're thinking of travelling this far, get in touch and I'll try to find out which lakes are producing best. I've always found morning best for specks up until about 11 AM, after that, you can get lakers and many of these lakes have both.

Looks good to me and I had my cataracts fixed.

Watch cap or touque but a touque usually has a pompom on top.

Yes, I remember and can actually picture every one of those and hear how those folks spoke those lines.

We usually have enough ice to walk on for the trout season opener on Jan. 1 and there are some species here that have an all-year open season, ie pike and rainbows. I'd advise care going on the ice before January, depending on the year. I'm not, however, within your 5 hour drive, closer to seven.

I believe that selling alcoholic beverage in your home is called bootlegging. It can be pretty tough to prove but not if you have the evidence standing in the corner.

I've seen years here where it was almost May long weekend when the ice went out. 22 weeks? More than 42% of the year. Too long!!! It would be nice to think that winter's nearly done but it hasn't officially started yet. Come on spring!!!