Big Cliff

Go Steel! In the long run it cost me about $500.00 more (about 8%) to go with steel than have my roof stripped and re shingled. I know that when the time comes that I do sell my house that I will get that money back no problem. In the meantime, I have enjoyed lower cooling bills in the summer time (the house stays much cooler now in the summer) and I have the piece of mind knowing that I will never have to worry about my roof again!

It is sad that sometimes people that really need attention do have to wait in emergency to get seen. I actually went to the walk-in clinic first and waited there for about 40 minutes before seeing a Dr.. About three minutes later he told me to go to emerge NOW!. While I was waiting I saw many people that really didn't need to be there insisting that they needed to see a Dr.. Kids that were cranky but didn't have a feaver, a guy with an in-grown toe nail that hurt and he wanted it fixed NOW! Please don't get me wrong, I am all for being sure especially with children. My daughter had meningitis when she was about 2 If we hadn't taken her in when we did and if that Dr. hadn't picked up on it when he did my daughter would probably not be alive today.

Steve I am truly sorry to hear about the layoff's. There are plenty of resources in place for the Target employees but what about all the support industries? You have been there a long time so I am sure that if there is a cut back you will be one of the last to go but I do worry about all the young ones (as I know you do) that have gone out and bought houses and started families based on what they thought was a secure job.

About 30 years ago there was a place in Milton called Hogshead Brew Club, I think it was on Nipissing Rd. That was back in the days when you actually had to go in and measure things out and brew it. I enjoyed doing it and started playing around with recipies and developed one that a lot of people seemed to really like. They actually took out a full page add in the local news paper with my picture on it inviting people to come in and try Bignell's Pilsner. I have a laminated copy of it around here somewhere. I don't know if they are still in business or not and my copy of the recipe is long gone but it was a lot of fun at the time.

I'm not much for hard booze either but I have made wine and beer (actually have a beer named after me "Bignells Pilsner".) Not sure if that is something to be proud of or not LOL.

If you and I ever got together I'd probably explode. my last words would be "pass me another plate and stand back"!

I tried to be serious once, I didn't like the person I became! Laughing even at ones self is so much more fun! Went to Brafasco this morning and bought a box of 1000 of those little self tapping hex head screws! Just don't try to follow me if I start to run, there might not be much ice left (oh wait, I'm too old to run anyway) Oh well, hold my beer and watch this!!!!! Blood? Heck that's what crazy glue and duct tape are for? I have never been to the hospital because of bleading, guess if crazy glue or duct tape couldn't fix it I'd go though. What I felt bad about was taking up Dr.s time and space and it turned out to be nothing to serious. There were so many others in there that needed attention much more than I did, just breaks my heart to see some little kid coughing so bad they can hardly breath or some of the other people that were in obviously more pain than I was. At one point I almost got up and walked out, not because I was upset about the wait, I just felt that someone else needed the attention more than I did. Then I realized that they had priortized things and I was quite content to wait until they could deal with me. I do have to thank the people that responded and suggested I go get checked out though because without their concern I probably wouldn't have gone. Turned out it was nothing serious but it could have been.

Been working on a couple of things lately; Cold smoked salmon/trout. I think I pretty much have that one nailed down and it is so easy to do. Made my first slab of bacon last week, turned out not too bad for a first attempt and no fancy chemicals in it. I will make some adjustments next slab I make, I used coarse sea salt, next batch will be kosher salt (crystals are a little larger and don't break down as quickly) and I cold smoked it with cherry wood which is a little strong, I'll go with apple or maple next time. I was really amazed at how easy it was to do it and the taste is way better than any you can buy in the store and it cost about half of a good store bought bacon. I also like the fact that it isn't loaded with nitrates. I still have to do some more work on my smoke generators, there is a lot of wasted smoke from the one I am using now. I think I am going to build a new smoker and I am thinking that one of those little bar fridges would be perfect, anyone have one that they would like to donate?????? Got a pot of bear stew brewing right now and some home made bread ready to go in the oven in about an hour. (now you know how I got to be Big Cliff) LOL. Hey, anyone ever tried to make home made vodka? That is something I'd like to learn!

Well, a couple of things! First of all, Lew if you wanted to bring that monitor and those pieces over here I bet we could make a piece out of wood that would fit the bill perfectly, use some high gloss black paint and you'd probably never know it was repaired. Second, If I need electronics (and lots of other things) I go to Costco, they automatically extend the Manufacturers warranty by two years and they have excellent help lines. I needed an adaptor to go from an audio digital out put to an analog input but it had to be a specific format, I called their help line and without hesitation the young lady was able to answer my question and in excellent English. The best price I could find on the part I needed anywhere in Canada or the US was about $50.00 +. I ordered it from China delivered to my door for $11.00 and it is the exact same one that I'd have paid $50.00+ for here.

OK, had to spend Saturday at the hospital downtown Toronto with Sue getting her tests done, we won't get those results for about another two weeks but at least then we'll have a better idea of what the next steps are going to be. I don't like going to the Dr. very much and really resist going to the hospital emergency for anything that isn't an immediate threat to life but since all of you seemed to think it was the smart thing to do, I took your advice. Went to the hospital here yesterday to get checked out, got there at 9:30, got out at 5:30, made for a long day of just sitting but at least we know. They decided to do a CT Scan just to be sure and their conclusion is that there is/was a concussion and whiplash but no brain bleeding so all is good. They gave me some stuff for the pain and an anti inflamitory, told me to be VERY careful to not do it again (like I want to LOL). I did ask if I would be able to dance and the Dr. said "sure", that's great because I never could before. Love, Light, and Happiness to all and thanks for caring!

Yesterday was one of those winter days that I look forward to, I didn't have to work, the sun was shining, and it wasn't too cold. A friend had asked me if I'd like to get out ice fishing, no big fancy trip or anything, just the two of us heading out here to see if we could find some crappie and/or perch, relax and enjoy the day. Conditions were excellent for getting around on the ATV, almost no snow so we hooked up the sled and away we went. The electric drill worked beautifully and we punched a bunch of holes and set up. It wasn't long before we started picking up some keeper perch and we were having a lot of laughs then it happened! I guess I was going to get another minnow and the next thing I knew I was leaning against my ATV and had no idea where I was or what had happened. Apparently my feet just went out from under me on the ice and I went down hard smacking the back of my head on the ice. Jim said I was out cold for about a minute and when I came too I started crawling back toward my bike, by then he had reached me and helped me back onto my feet but I had no idea where I was and didn't recognize the shore line (even though I've been there many times over the last few years). I had no idea which way home was, but Jim loaded up the sled and got me back onto the bike, by then I had sort of started to regain my senses to some degree and while I was still dazed at least knew which way to head for home but I was still pretty confused and some what disoriented. We got back to the house and had a cup of tea but it took me about an hour just to be able to sort of understand what had happened and I still have no memory of a period of time before, during, or after falling. It really made me think though about the number of us the go off sometimes miles onto the ice with no one else around and how quickly we can get into trouble. It worked out ok in my case apart from being sore and I think having a mild concusion; even if I had been alone I guess I'd have survived but it sure could have worked out a whole lot differently. Be careful out there, life doesn't come with a reset button.

Until there is accountability there will never be honesty.

Very well put!

"Ketchmeifucany" But a contest to pick a name for it might be fun too.

Remember that old song LOL. https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-cl=84359240&feature=player_detailpage&v=XoRLIJJSG4o&x-yt-ts=1421782837 I can't get it out of my head but that isn't what I'm refering too. The mobile ice hut project is under way! Got the lawn tractor for free from a good friend that didn't need it any more (well actually prommised to fix his newer one for him) . Met up with a guy, Larry McNish that has a snow machine salvage yard; what a nice young man, he has one sled that fits my needs and thinks he can find me another to match it without too much trouble and his price is VERY reasonable! Man, this guy has anything and everything when it comes to sleds Then I talked to a very good friend of mine "wiskeywizard" because he is a genious at making and fabricating things and he is all over the two of us building one of these. Between the two of us we probably have every tool or a variation of it known to man (but our wives don't know that..... lets keep it that way!) So, it is a pretty good bet that by next winter you will see a mobile ice hut putting around the Kawarthas! Life is what you make it!

Thanks for the report, I've been thinking I'd like to spend a day out there shortly,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=s0I-76_pHLQ I already have a marine railway so I don't need one of these but someone was thinking!

Plan "B" it is then, it's a sled

What a wonderful report!

Good thing! She probably wouldn't have wanted the job anyway.

Right across from the airport. There is also a big subdivision going in there too and there was word that Home Depot was also going to be opening up but someone told me they had backed off on that. Everything is in place for it, they just needed to finish the sewer trunk line which should be done in about two months. The big thing is going to be what happens to all that mall space and all the little stores in the mall. It will be interesting to see if anyone steps in to take that over because without the space rented that mall can't survive.

Ok, first of all, think about renting outside of Sudbury proper, smaller places like Noelville and you can rent a nice little appartment very reasonably. Second, fishing in the area is fantastic with plenty of lakes to choose from. Once you decide on where you are going to be staying let me know. Both my son and son-in-law love fishing and know plenty of spots that they would be happy to show you. email me @ [email protected] once you decide on where you are going to stay and I'll hook you up.

OK, just to really have some fun with it, i'll put some stubby wings on it and tell them it's an experimental aircraft prototype I'm working on. That will really mess them up LOL. Thanks Dan, boy could we have fun if you lived closer LOL. Hey, maybe I can get Wayne to build me a set of stubby retractable wings

After my first visit to the Target Store here in Lindsay I never bothered going back again; poor selection of items, half empty shelves, and nothing special about the prices. It was nice to hear that the employees are going to get 16 weeks severence and thet Services Canada will be set up with a special code to fast track applications for benifits and support services for them, most people would be getting 2 weeks severence and no special treatment from Services Canada. Lindsay won't be too bad off, Walmart is coming into town this spring and that will provide as many or more jobs than Target.

Super, I'll give them a call today! Great idea Bernie, thanks!