DanD

A friend sent me this; I thought it was worth sharing here?

A couple of days ago we needed to get some antibiotics for one of our dogs that has an infection. We put the meds on the counter, beside the bread box like we always had. The next morning the package is on the floor, torn to shreds and only 2 pills left out of 20. Then we hear Gus (one of our 2 cats) at the door (wanting out) with the dry heaves; we now know where the pills went. Off to the vet's office and after a night's stay and $600.00 + dollars Gus is home again feeling fine. So thanks Cliff; it was nice seeing a cat getting his dues. LOL Dan.

They'll only be able to collect past licensing fees from people willing or afraid not to pay them. My 50 Chevy has been at the beauty spa (body shop) for the last 2 1/2 years. Why would I have bought a sticker for her while she was getting a face lift? LOL The only thing I have been paying for her is her insurance. Same as a buddy of mine he's had his 67 Ford Galaxie sitting on the sidelines for close to 30 years. Last year he bought a new plate and sticker for it (Chevy's are hers Fords are its LOL) and there wasn't a question as to why now after 30 years. After this is all over and done back to "normal" Ontario or the Febs will be taking a big enough bite out of us that I'm not offering up any cash that I don't have to. Dan.

I'll be printing a copy of that email, to take with me; if I do get a chance of staying overnight. Dan.

Just Got this reply from the Aylmer MNR office Good morning, Dan. Thanks for your email seeking clarification about ice fishing during the Stay-at-Home order. Hopefully the following information will be helpful. Under the Stay-at-Home order a person is required to remain in their place of residence and only leave their home for purposes permitted under the Stay-at-Home order, including: · Obtaining food · Exercise · Exercising an Aboriginal or treaty right as recognized and affirmed by the section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. Ice fishing huts should be treated the same as indoor gatherings and only be used with other members of your household. There are new restrictions on the rental of ice huts. Ice hut may only be rented to a person if the hut will only be used by members of the same household and the hut will not be used overnight. If a person owns their own ice hut, they can stay overnight. All the best, Melody Melody Cairns | Resources Operations Supervisor (Acting) Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry | Regional Operations Division | Aylmer District | 615 John St. N., Aylmer, ON, N5H 2S8 | Tel: 519-773-4720 | Cell: 519-902-4631 | Email: [email protected]

I've had dealings with both Floyd and Tim. Floyd wouldn't help with pulling my hut out after I misjudged the strength of machine I needed. I had a hundred dollar bill in my hand stretched out to him; this is what I got from him. "I'm not hooking up my equipment to your junk; get the #&^$ out" Like I said above I was anywhere from a 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile away from his string of huts. Well off his trail and away from any other huts; that's until he made a new trail to buzz the hut. I respect what you're saying Shane and I thought I was also showing Tim respect for going as far as I did? I was in a large empty area West of his string; closer to the islands. I cut my own trail to get there. Plus there were tones of huts North, South and East of his string and I know some of those were closer to his string then I was. That was a year ago; time to forget it and move on. Dan.

You're probably right about Sally, not being able to go out on Simcoe. May mean a run up to Nipissing; but that seems like a lot just to use her? I'm hoping that I can get the quad and the bobsled out on Simcoe; at least to the perch grounds? I'm also waiting and watching for the hut operators to start using their bombardiers; if or when they do; then I'll try putting Sally out on the ice? Stay on the trails and not venture to far off the trails. Maybe I'll get Tim Hale to give me crap again for setting up to close to his string of huts; "causing them to flood"? LOL I was 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile away from his string; but I guess that wasn't far enough for him and his team. They kept buzzing my hut every chance they had. On my second day out there they started again; but this time a CO was watching. After he checked that we were legal, he ask how long has the harassment been going on. I told him and he said that he would take care of it. For the rest of my 5 day stay in the hut; I wasn't bothered by him again. I use to have a lot of respect for Tim and the way he catered to his customers. I guess if you're not spending money with him; you're crap on the bottom of his shoes. Just telling it as it happened. Dan. i'll

We've talked about that and decided we'd drive ourselves to the lake. Getting out there; isn't an issue. Me driving Sally or the quad (depending on the ice conditions), pulling the 5'X8" bobsled with a guy and gear inside the sled. Yea it'll mean 4 trips to get the five of us out there; but its not like we're on the clock or anything. With it already being the end of January; I'm thinking not to put the big hut out this year. We'll use the bobsled as a warm up shack and take turns going in. We wont even be bending the rules; let alone breaking any. Dan.

I built a six man hut with 12 openings to the ice. Two holes each for the six guys. What do my fishing buddies do; they fish outside? Only coming into the hut for a warm up or something to eat. So for us it shouldn’t be an issue following COVID rules. Someone needs to warm up; I stay in my end of the shack (well above the two meter distance or I go outside and stretch my legs. No rules being broken. If we’re questioned by an authority; ask him to prove we were all in the hut at the same time. Dan.

Holly crap I never noticed before! Are you related to a sasquatch family? LOL Thanks for the laugh guys. Dan.

Quad doesn't like a lot of snow; but isn't as heavy as Sally. Sally doesn't care about snow; out on Nipissing last year, we were plowing fresh trails through three feet of snow pulling a 5X8 bobsled. The sled was carrying three guys and all our gear. I road very comfortable driving Sally; but the guys in the sled got bumped around a bit. LOL Note to self; drive slower with passengers in the bobsled. LOL Dan.

She does well out on the ice and snow; but she's a bit on the heavy side and I don't want to loose her to Lady Simcoe. If a bombardier from an operator are going out; makes me feel Sally can also go by staying on an operators trail? Dan.

Does anyone know whether Tim has his bombardiers out, or is he using sleds to haul people out to the huts? Why I ask is, should I bring Sally up or my quad? Sally

Yeah. Wasn't going to search to long looking for a Fargo. The first green Bell van I saw got posted; so shoot me! LOL Dan.

I put up one of those portable tarp sheds and keep my smoker and canning pot burner in there. Yes while smoking it does get a bit thick in there; but my temps stay consistent. Cough, cough burning eyes. LOL This just reminded me, I have a bunch of salmon to smoke tonight or I'll have to leave it as lox and I'll be the only one eating it; oh well? LOL Dan.

Power to you and enjoy!!! Dan.

A friend of mine worked for Bell for approx. 25+ years. He took an early retirement, not because he was done with work; but couldn't stand Bell's new polices. Which were more or less; screw customer service; they get what we give them. What happened to those ugly green vans with the yellow wheels and cub caps. The techs ("The bell man") driving them and their courteous smile and work ethic; that would keep them there until a problem was fixed? Come on all of us older guys; you/we must remember those UGLY green Doge/Fargo vans.? LOL Dan.

I'm on the same page as you Terry; but there's no ice on Simcoe that I can put my overnight hut out on, to test this theory? I wonder what a cop bent on busting me would do, if he stormed through the door of my hut. To find me sitting on my porta-potty, with-in reach of the cook stove that had beacon and eggs cooking on it? (It's not just for breakfast), Along with a peculating pot of coffee going; should I offer him a cup before or after wiping my ass? LOL Dan.

Human nature, the lazy worst know that asphalt is easier to drill then concrete. Plus if they cracked the sidewalk; the town/city has more clout to force Bell to repair it. LOL. Good thinking on your part, to park the truck in their way! Dan.

Just received an email from Bell phone about customer satisfaction. They must have not liked my answers on the survey this is the link I was emailed after notification of them receiving my survey results. LOL Bells reply. LOL As far as I'm concerned the all powerful Bell can go to hell. I have or am trying to my best not to pay them another dime for services. Dan.

I know what you mean; I've had a few different huts out there. Usually stayed between Thorah and Georgina islands, in or hopefully on the perch grounds. Didn't even think of taking my sleeper hut out last year. For 3 years prior to that I spent extended weekends out on the ice. On a Saturday and Sunday, I'd fish with family; when they left I'd be on my own and enjoyed every minute of it. Stayed for a week once during February. Knew I had enough provisions, propane for the RV furnace and the generator was full of gas to keep my batteries charged. A whole week to myself and time to ponder where the cancer I was diagnosed with was to take me. Great therapy got my head around it and came through it clear of the disease. Not saying the solitude cured it by any means; but got my head in the right place to fight it. During the times out there I also had the chance to meet a few other people; mostly walkers. This one couple I saw walking towards the hut, looked half froze. He had his arm around his wife's shoulder as to shield her. When they were close enough I called them over and asked if they'd like to come in and warm up; which they did. It took them some time to stop shivering; but after a couple cups of hot soup and the furnace cranked up they were fine. Got them bundled back up in their gear and the three of us road back to shore on my quad. I have not seen them since but do get a text form them during Xmas time. Another time a guy had his snowmobile breakdown a few hundred yards away form the hut. He said it had done this before and after letting it to cool down it would likely fire up for him. So he put up his pop up and went fishing. (Bugger caught more fish then me. LOL) A few hours later I heard him trying to start the sled; but not even a misfire was happening. It was also late afternoon and the light was dimming. Told him he was welcome to stay in the hut for the night and have something to eat and a bed. That we'd try the sled again in the morning. He agreed and we had a good meal and then got into my 60 of rye. Lets just say we both slept well that night. LOL The next morning, hungover like bears we towed his sled back to Beaverton. Sorry for the long post; but as I started typing; I started reminiscing. Dan.

No big deal; you just updated that OLD thread. LOL Some of those old threads are in need of fleshing up and brought back into the light. Dan.

With my garage being an "essential" service, my shop is allowed to be open. (Not that I'm making money being open; it's so slow I can barely cover my tech's wages) We are taking every possible precaution that I/we can. We all wear masks at all times; that we're here. I have a limit of three people in my front office/waiting room. I've had to ask a number of people to leave my reception area, because they were not wearing a face covering/mask. There is a plexiglass barrier at the customer counter. Signs on the entrance door; telling people about the mask and the number of people allowed in at any one time. (That no one ever seems to read) I've also began taking customer's temperatures with a lazar type, touch less forehead thermometer; when they come . Record that info with their name, Phone number, time, their temp and the date. If they have a fever we ask them to leave and go get tested for covid, We all use disposable medical type gloves and change them for every vehicle that we're working on. Wipe ignition key, ignition lock, steering wheel and whatever we need to touch that we're working on inside the vehicle; with a sanitizing cloth. The temperature taking and recording of that data is a suggestion from the legal department (Lawyer) at my wife's work place. The Covid cops will like to see us doing that; that's so they can contact these people, making sure they've gone for testing. I was concerned that people wouldn't like having their temp taken; but to my surprise they (so far) seem fine with it. So what else is there to do? It's a lot more expense and time doing what we are and then not knowing if we're helping with cutting the spread? Oh Man I Hate These Times! Dan.

X2...............we call them little balls from hell......... X3 I call sprouts cabbage turds! Now if my wife saw that dish, she'd be sitting right next to you; acting like Oliver Twist "Please Sir I Want Some More" LOL Dan.

OK But what did you catch; don't leave us hanging. LOL Cause I'll tell you about my Ice fishing day last Saturday. It wasn't that cold outside; but I found an area with some frozen stuff. I was sight fishing for some perch; but kept getting snagged on things that were in the way of my choice of prey. After hitting my head on the overhead structure, I was using as a blind. I said screw it and just snagged what I was after. I then had to quietly sneak away before being caught fishing out of the freezer again. I made sure all other fowl hooked steaks, roasts and some carp I couldn't make out what it was; was all set back in place. The perch supper was great and the wife didn't know where I caught them. Dan.