Cottage Country Reflections

Icy times in Lanark, S.E. Ontario

2012-01-28T10:54:00.002-05:00

Can't keep up with the icey rain.
Just when it's cleaned off,
the rain comes again!

My mailbox, it seems
was hit terribly hard
with thick layer of ice
its efficiency marred

The winter it seems
was more icy than snow
sunset revealed:

ice on pine needles

a beauteous glow!

Rewarded with a lovely sunset, but more snow to come!

From Cottage Country Reflections

Bird watching

2012-01-28T09:56:00.002-05:00

woodpecker

Sadie!

Lil' Red

So wee

And the blue jay

Buster watches

ferocious

I love the sounds birds make at different times of the year and in different places. You can hear Buster doing his maa-aa-aa, as he watched the blue jay.

Visit more critters here, #199!

Pink Ribbons, Inc. - the pink machine

2012-01-27T09:59:00.001-05:00

I've thought long and hard about this issue. The pink ribbon machine. Hi-jacked by many business owners, cancer fundraising is big business. I wrote about it last fall: The Pink Machine.

I have read the book, and hope to see this movie. The book is an excellent commentary on pink washing, whereby a company connects with the breast cancer bandwagon, but doesn't truly respect the notion that we must watch for chemicals that cause cancer.
Many make-up products contain chemicals we know nothing about. Some are tested on animals, but that is another story.

The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) is upset with the film. CCS tells us that 65% of funds raised go towards breast cancer research. This is not the case for many businesses that use the pink ribbon to raise their profile and their SEO.

Breast cancer has become the poster child of cause-related marketing campaigns. Countless people walk, run and shop for the cure. Each year, millions of dollars are raised in the name of breast cancer, but where does this money go and what does it actually achieve?

Directed by Léa Pool and produced by Ravida Din, Pink Ribbons, Inc. is a feature documentary from the National Film Board of Canada that shows how the devastating reality of breast cancer, which marketing experts have labeled a “dream cause,” has become obfuscated by a shiny, pink story of success.

Watch a clip from Pink Ribbons, Inc. (Clip)online at NFB.ca

Pink Ribbons, Inc. opens theatrically across Canada, starting ...

www.onf-nfb.gc.ca › ... › Press Room › Press Releases & Media Kits

The National Film Board of Canada presents Pink Ribbons, Inc. Directed by Léa Pool. Produced by Ravida Din. Written by Patricia Kearns & Nancy Guerin...

"Highly revelatory—at times shocking—Pink Ribbons, Inc. challenges the commercialization of the breast cancer movement, its place in U.S. culture, and its influence on ideas of good citizenship, responsible consumption, and generosity. "

The author, Samantha King, is an associate professor of physical and health education and women’s studies at Queen’s University, in Kingston, Ontario. It is well-written, and an interesting read. It is, indeed, shocking, the amount of money sunk into 'research', with no promises of support or delivery of programs. If you donate, you must be sure to check out the background of the sponsors.

I would caution you in entering the 'race for the cure'. There are questions as to how much money goes to research, and how much should go to supporting those with cancer. The Canadian Cancer Society provides a range of services, for example: a lodge in which to stay, peer support, volunteer drivers, etc.). They are transparent in their financial statements.

Helping those with cancer – watch the video

Our information and support services help cancer patients and their caregivers by reducing anxiety and increasing hope. In this video healthcare professionals speak about the benefits of the services and former clients share how these services helped them through their cancer journey.

The Susan B. Komen foundation has raised more than a billion dollars. They charge big bucks to participate in their machine. The disease is being used for profit. Every marketing strategist in North America has at least thought about tying their product up in a pink ribbon.

Breast cancer has become the poster child of cause-related marketing campaigns - people walk, run and shop for 'the cure'. Each year, millions of dollars are raised in the name of breast cancer, but where does this money go and what does it actually achieve?

The recent Ottawa Run For The Cure raised $1.5 million dollars. How is it that this kind of money cannot find a cure? I believe we must put more money into prevention, treatment and services. We know how to reduce the risk of cancer, if not prevent it:

eat a balanced diet (mostly plants), reduce fats and alcohol, exercise, get enough sleep, manage stress.

Yet marathon runners contract cancer, as well as those who do all of the above.

These sisters know that cancer is genetically heritable. How, then, could they have prevented it? Perhaps we need more genetic counselling. Perhaps those taking expensive, extreme in vitro fertilization should have the same counselling, rather than spending thousands of dollars to make a body get pregnant unnaturally.

Pink Ribbons, Inc. is a feature documentary that shows how the devastating reality of breast cancer, which marketing experts have labeled a "dream cause," has become obfuscated by a shiny, pink story of success.

For more information on this film, please visit Pink Ribbons, Inc. page or send an email to PinkRibbonsInc@nfb.ca.

Pink Ribbons, Inc. premieres at TIFF to a packed house | NFB.ca blog

12 Sep 2011

Quilting, not a lost art

2012-01-27T09:03:00.001-05:00

While I was volunteering at Perth Community Care Centre, some of our Lanark County Quilters Guild came to visit!
Carole led the group through this beautiful piece of artistic endeavour.
All handled with gloves!

To view all of the photos:

Carole explained the origins of the quilts. They were beautiful to see!

My tattoo photo collection

2012-01-27T08:30:00.000-05:00

Connor, Benjamin, Gracie-Lynn

"perfer et obdura; dolor hic tibi proderit olim"
Be patient and tough; some day this pain will be useful to you.

"Intelligence: Always use your head
but trust your heart."

People are people and sometimes we change our minds

More action at the feeder

2012-01-26T09:02:00.002-05:00

The crow came for a visit.

turkeys watch it

And then it was gone

My slow reaction time!

Mystery bird- American Woodcock

2012-01-26T08:38:00.000-05:00

My faithful readers will recall, last year, April 7, 2011, I posted a dusk video of the song of a mystery bird. I couldn't see it in the dark. My late buddy, Oliver the cat, was chasing it on the lawn. Someone on YouTube suggested it is an American Woodcock. It could well be! This link has the same sounds!

I anticipate more April visitors! Today it being -10 C. and brisk.

This photo a file from the Wikimedia Commons. Information from its description page is shown: The original flicker photo.
Commons is a freely licensed media file repository. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Habitat for Humanity Muskoka

2012-01-25T08:58:00.004-05:00

I love watching these homes shape up from donated time and materials. I live 430 km away from my old Bala home, where I blogged the Bala build in 2010. I've kept up with my old cottage region, we cottaged there from 1960 - 2010, full time in the last 4 years. My Muskoka blog & cyberfriends post many beautiful photos to remind me of my old haunts. I created a list of them in 2009.

How much wood does it take? A lot

In the meantime, Emily has posted some more Habitat photos. She has put in 450 sweat equity hours, and anticipates moving in within the next month. For reasons I cannot go into, I am not permitted to post her photos on the official Habitat blog. Here they are, from her Facebook account. She is a terrific photographer, and I love seeing them.

The basement walls

The basement

The cement blocks are heavy!

All those details:

cutting out for the sink!

Early December, 2011

December 20, 2011

Many volunteers give their time to a build

2012-01-25T08:58:00.003-05:00

donated lunch!

Many companies donate the time of employees, as well as goods and services. Here are some photos!

Volunteers are required to wear hard hats and steel-toed work boots. Habitat keeps volunteer equipment for loaners!

Alex

Betty, Emily's daughter

Ken & Betty

Dave

Dorothy

Duncan & BIll

Duncan, Emily, Fred

George & Fred

Janice & Tom

Larry

Larry, Emily, Vince

Mary our lunch lady!

'Monkey' George

Katimavik crew

Oliver's staff: yay, coffee!

Peter

Royal Bank volunteers

Steve

Steve & Ken

Wild turkeys with or without beards

2012-01-24T07:21:00.005-05:00

Clean up crew

I was curious about our turkeys.

They have huge feet!

Its beard drags the ground.
Don't they trip on it?

They were cleaning the driveway for me and I grabbed a photo. Must be deer food spilled!

The males are different than the females. I didn't even notice until my friend, Susan, commented on it last winter!

As I began watching them I realized that they seemed to come in same-sex groups. Either bearded males or unbearded females. On adult males, these beards average about 22 cm (9") long, but 10 to 20% of hens also grow beards. THAT confused me.

Then I began to wonder how they cleaned it. The deer groom each other as well as themselves! This beard hangs down onto the ground. I wonder if they trip over it!

Beard:

A male turkey grows a cluster of long, hairlike feathers from the center of its chest. This cluster is known as the turkey's beard.

The longest beard on record is more than 18 inches long.

Legs:
Wild turkey legs are reddish-orange.
They have four toes on each foot.
Male wild turkeys grow large spurs on the backs of their lower legs. These spurs are pointed, bony spikes and are used for defense and to establish dominance.

Spurs can grow up to 5 cm (2") in length. The longest spurs on record are 5.5 cm (2.25") long.
This video of mine has their sounds on it!

Here they are showing off their beards AND their feathers! Practicing for the ladies!

More turkey info!

Ya sing the blues so ya don't got the blues no more!

2012-01-23T12:09:00.000-05:00

Me and T.J. – I was trying to teach a student how to take a photo!

As T.J.Wheeler said to us, "Ya sang the blues so ya don't got the blues no more!"
I participated in the Blues in the Schools program, BITS, back in the day (2001). It was much fun.

There were 4 bands that visited our school. Then, the next week, one group of musicians worked with a select group of kids to produce a concert. We integrated art into the project. Students created murals for Bluesfest.

We created murals

The groups included Suzie Vinnick and Tony D!

Tony D and Suzie Vinnick – BITS -my photo from 2001

Learned to play drums!

We learned the words to our songs

I last saw Suzie Vinnick at the Westport has the Blues event!

The blues had a baby and
they called it rock and roll!

Maple Blues Awards

Great reading about their awards:
MonkeyJunk a triple threat at Maple Blues awards

Ottawa band wins prizes for best electric act, recording and drummer

January 17, 2012

ELECTRIC ACT OF THE YEAR
MonkeyJunk: Tony D, Steve Marriner and Matt Sobb

RECORDING OF THE YEAR
To Behold, MonkeyJunk

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Suzie Vinnick

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Suzie Vinnick

Harper has successfully positioned the Conservatives as the party of the deeply stupid

2012-01-22T13:58:00.003-05:00

Some times you just have to laugh. I love reading witty political positioning.

G8 fencing in Huntsville!

Minister of Industry, Tony Clement, after his messing about with G8 and G20 funding, especially the fake lake, made himself a laughing stock.

I had many interviews during the G8 fencing activities. Toronto couldn't believe what Clement did in Muskoka. Fencing, brand new signage where no G20 member would ever be found!

G8 signage!

Andrew Potter has written a great editorial.
Clement has been involved in other fun times: trying to shut down a harm reduction site for drug addicts. He was health minister at the time that 100 physicians and scientists disputed this, and signed a petition to refute the deliberate misrepresentation by the government.

Harper's Get Tough on Crime stance is ridiculous, with crime rates being down.
Harper Conservative Crime Bill Will Cost Ontario Taxpayers More Than $1 Billion

New business: reduce red tape for business.
When accepting the recommendations, Clement, president of the Treasury Board, seized on one specific item as his government’s media-friendly initiative: the implementation of a “one-for-one” rule, that will require bureaucrats to eliminate one old regulation for every new one they add.

What a way to run the country!

back off government!

Deeply entrenched in Lanark County is the libertarian principle of 'back off government'. It is truly frightening. Businesses need laws. Profit is a terrible motivator.

The government claims gendercide in Canada, with some populations aborting female fetuses. We know this exists in other countries. What about Canada?

Of course, remember the mess Clement/Harper made of the long-form census? He was industry minister at the time.

Hard-to-find-information when the census is optional! The article says that one Citizen journalist was trying to find Canadian ethnic data and was having a hard time! Answers on ethnicity help us understand our populations.

Read the whole article. It is clever.

Policy for the neuronally challenged

More G8 signage: locals appreciated the work!

By Andrew Potter January 20, 2012

In his six years in power Stephen Harper has successfully positioned the Conservatives as the party of neither the left, nor of the right, but of the deeply stupid. And as Canadians have come to realize, when Tony Clement is sent out to sell a policy, things are about to get seriously neuronally challenged.

The so-called “gendercide” in Asia, mostly in China and India, has resulted in millions of girls not being born, either via selective abortion and even infanticide. The Journal’s editor wrote that this practice “also happens in North America in numbers large enough to distort the male-to-female ratio in some ethnic groups.”

Roe v. Wade at 39: A ‘breathtaking’ year for abortion restrictions

Today is the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

Mississippi River flows: sledding at the speed of suicide

2012-01-22T09:19:00.001-05:00

Mississippi River, Jan 20, 2012

Of course, some yahoos go through the open water on purpose.

Despite subzero temperatures, the rivers are still flowing into the lakes.

The incidents are piling up. Lake Mississippi sucked in an ATV and a truck!
OPP are telling people to be careful as the warm winter means many spots normally frozen are iffy now.

Down river it is apparently frozen

OPP urge caution - Variable ice dangers
Multiple open water and break-through incidents

Bubblers keep water open

A recent blast of winter has resulted in a false sense of security as many outdoor enthusiasts venture onto the ice with snowmobiles and trucks.

I don't think their mom knows
that they do this!

sledding on a lake

The fluctuations in temperatures and increased snowfalls have resulted in inconsistent and unstable ice conditions on lakes and rivers.
In the North East Region, the OPP has investigated six occurrences were snow machines have either broken through thin ice or driven into open water.
Three other snowmobile operators were killed in off-ice incidents in Gogama, Sault Ste. Marie and Burks Falls.
Collisions with stationary obstacles such as ice shacks, rock outcrops and pressure cracks see riders ejected and seriously injured or killed.
Speed and alcohol often factor in such crashes.

Riding at night increases risks of open water incidents and trail collisions as machine headlights are often overdriven.
The OPP urge snowmobile enthusiasts to continually consult the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) website’s Interactive Trail Guide and Trail Status Reports.
Ice conditions are poor in many areas, if you choose to venture out, stick to the open trails and ride with extreme caution.

Sledding at the speed of suicide

Snowmobile Incidents 2009-10
Running totals: 86 Canadian incidents, 67 deaths, and quite a few unreported near misses

Who do you see at YOUR bird feeder?

2012-01-21T10:13:00.002-05:00

We have many birds.

No cardinals, much to my dismay.

Wild turkey needs some grooming!

Lots of squirrels!

Nuthatch, blue jay, pileated woodpecker, mourning doves, chickadee, wild turkey, deer and goldfinches. Of course, the rabbits love feeding there in the night time!

mourning dove and red squirrel!

In fact, last year I wanted to do an explanation, with signage, to let the critters know who should feed from which feeder.
It didn't work. Too short an attention span!

Yes, the turkeys jumped ONTO the feeder. They couldn't figure out how to get at the food.

Camera Critters #198

Deer watching

2012-01-21T10:00:00.000-05:00

Ice is dangerous this year: incidents pile up

2012-01-21T05:17:00.002-05:00

And another one:

Snowmobiler dies after striking river bank
An Ottawa man died late Saturday, January 21st, after his snowmobile struck a river bank near Quyon in Quebec’s Pontiac region.
Joseph Leafloor, 31, was driving the snowmobile and crashed while attempting a U-turn.
“It will take a couple of weeks before we find out exactly what happened, but we think alcohol and speeding was involved,” said MRC des Collines Sgt. Louis Piche.

Man serious after snowmobile strikes ice hut

A 27-year-old Pakenham man is in serious condition after his snowmobile crashed into an ice fishing hut on Madawaksa Lake early Saturday. Mississippi Mills firefighters went to the rescue.

Snowmobiling with a group of friends, he crashed into the wooden shack shortly after 1 a.m., suffered several broken bones and internal injuries, taken to the Ottawa Hospital Civic campus. He remained in serious condition late Saturday morning but fire officials believe his injuries are not life-threatening.

UPDATE: driver charged

Parry Sound Snowmobiler Charged in Connection With Friend's Death

Rose Point Rd.

Drinking and sledding. Deadly combination.

UPDATE:
Teen's Body Found in Georgian Bay After Snowmobile Incident: The body of an 18-year-old was found at 3 p.m. this afternoon, Tuesday, January 17th.

Search for snowmobiler who went through ice continues near Parry Sound
Muskoka To-DAILY Monday, January 16
A couple of 18-year-olds went across the open water around 10 p.m., under a swing bridge in Wasauksing First Nation in the Rose Point Rd. area. The driver managed to climb onto the ice, while the passenger has not yet been found.
Parry Sound First Responders assisted and searched. The OPP Under Water Search and Recovery Unit (USRU) began a search this morning, Jan. 17, 2012.

Jan 13, 2012

Water rescue on Mississippi Lake

by Staff

PERTH - Two men were rescued after falling through the ice on Mississippi Lake Thursday night. (Jan. 12, 2012)

And incidents are not limited to Ontario, with a VERY mild fall/winter...

Ice fisherman fights frostbite after Lake Winnipeg rescue

CBC.ca‎ - 18 hours ago Jan. 12

A man whose truck went through the ice on Lake Winnipeg is dealing with severe ... He and friend Jody Saniuk, 51, were taking part in an ice-fishing derby ...

How to get yourself published!

2012-01-20T18:32:00.000-05:00

Date: January 24, 2012

Time: 7:00 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Cost: FREE!

Location: Perth Union Library

This 45-minute presentation will highlight the paths and pitfalls in getting yourself published. It will be followed by a 15-minute question period during which time participants may share their experiences in publishing, and pose questions. Jennifer Jilks will cover the following topics in her presentation:

First you read, and then you write!
Writing: poetry, books, submissions, blogs
Find a network
Find a publisher
The book proposal
Using an editor
The publishing process
Marketing your book

Jennifer Jilks is a retired teacher, having taught all grades from JK to grade eight. She is a published author, and wrote a book about providing care to her late parents, Living and Dying in Dignity: A daughter's journey. She has worked as a consultant for the NSM LHIN Aging at Home Project, presented to various support groups, and at the NSM Palliative Care Conference. She has been featured on CBC's White Coat Black Art radio show, and was interviewed by Greg Friese, at medicalauthorchat.com. Jennifer continues to volunteer through Community Home Support Lanark County providing respite care, and acting as their newsletter editor. She writes six non-profit blogs, including the Carleton Place Habitat build, to keep contact with various friends and family.

Occupy & Canada

2012-01-20T09:28:00.002-05:00

Many in the Gen Y generation resort to pseudonyms and anonymous comments.

The Occupy movement is one of them. There were arguments about banning videotaping at one point, wearing masks in parks, attacking the so-called 1%. (It's more like the 0.5%!)

Yes, here I am watching those, many of whom do not have an income, nor contribute other than time and energy to the world, complaining about the poor and the rich! Bravely occupying a park.

You've read them; self-important comments, arrogance or rudeness more often than not. As if me and my generation did nothing for the poor, the environment, the economy, the world around us.

We're doing well in Canada,
much better than many other countries.
Norway is richer than we are due to several reasons: Both Canada and Norway benefited in 2007 and 2008 from rising world energy prices. But the oil and gas sector accounts for a much larger proportion of the economy in Norway.

Bike tour, 2011

To have those in Ottawa occupy a park is, to me, ridiculous. Writers are posting facts, such as millionaires (the 1%) control 40% of the world's wealth, not 99%. But this isn't so for Canada. For those of us who are not in the top10% and most of us aren't in the bottom 10%. We lie somewhere in between.
Compare Canada's debt with that of Greece.

Social indicators are clear
Canada, in 2009, our per capita GDP was $39,795. Not bad for a country with 1/10th the population of the US.

Afghanistan's was $457; Haiti's was $626; US $44, 872; Kuwait, $36,668; all in US dollars.
Compare Canadian's income and per capita GDP with that of other countries.
In 2008, Canada’s GDP actually grew, while six peer countries suffered negative growth.
In the 1970s, Canada’s GDP per capita was $17,812, the fourth highest of its peer countries

Compare Ottawa's homeless with that of underdeveloped countries, e.g., Haiti, where many have volunteered. We have infrastructure, which our taxes pay for, and agencies to help meet the needs of our homeless.

In 2009, Canada's total median income was $68,410.
[Census families include couple families, with or without children, and lone-parent families.
Source: Statistics Canada, CANSIM, table (for fee) 111-0009.
Last modified: 2011-06-28.]

The homeless
There will always be those with and those without. The 'make poverty history' ideologies make me angry. There will always be those on the fringe, there will always be those who are homeless due to various reasons. A recent death of a homeless man revealed how many agencies and resources had been devoted to helping this man who could not choose to get the help. The individuals and agencies involved need to be lauded for respecting him and his choices.
Here is a fine example of a wonderful agency: Shepherds of Good Hope–

Homeless Shelters Prepare for Cold Weather

The housing market
According to the Ottawa Real Estate Board, average house sales are $343,701, which is an increase of 5.2% from 2010.
Of December’s sales, 177 were in the condominium property class, while 522 were in the residential property class.

Employment
Our employment rates have gone up.

Things are slowly improving

There will always be those in the top 0.5%, truly the 1% that have been misnamed.

Those of us in the middle, who donate our time, money and energy, resent being told that Canada needs occupation. Occupy Perth has been the latest invention. When I look around, see the work being done by me and my volunteer peers, I feel good about my generation.

I see the snowmobiles sidle up to the gas pumps, the young people driving to the gas station to fill up their luxury boats, I wonder where the blame lies for the angst of the 99%, or the 0.5% occupying parks.

Play time in Parry Sound!

Emily's Habitat House!

2012-01-20T08:24:00.000-05:00

My cyber-friend, Emily is working hard on her new Habitat home. The final details take such a long time!
I have never met Emily, but I have learned to love her! I interviewed her last month.
She has taken some wonderful photos. I am happy to share them with my readers, who express such regard for Habitat for Humanity! Her home is nearly ready for occupancy. Many have helped to contribute to the build.

Coyote sighting!

2012-01-19T09:26:00.000-05:00

Coyote at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge:
Rebecca Richardson (Red~Star)

No, not me, but I saw its tracks.
Everyone is hungry with snow on the ground.
I presume it is a coyote. I saw a shadow of a predator off in the gully once. Never again.

The photo left is from a better photographer than I, creative commons lic.!

I did capture their voices one sleepless night at 2 a.m., but that is all.
They visited our shed, looking for the 'mice friends' for which the cats search!

My boots are 4" wide!

The critter bounded back out
out under the tree.

Tracks led in and out of the shed.
Glad they led out!

I saw these tracks leading into the shed.

Driving at the speed of stupid

2012-01-19T08:04:00.008-05:00

Good Samaritan recalls Hwy 69 crash

PARRY SOUND – Doug Clark felt helping those injured at in the multi-vehicle accident on Highway 69 earlier this month was something he had to do. To his disappointment, he said others drove...

The news is full of horrific incidents. In the first few weeks of January traffic incidents have more than doubled in the same short period of time as last year:

from 8 in 2011, to 17 traffic deaths this year, 2012.

I am not surprised. For those in a hurry, or those with a fine sense of entitlement: feeling free to drive beyond the speed limit, or to pass drivers doing the speed limit, they risk the lives of loved ones.

I know I write for the converted. Who among us has not known someone who has faced grief due to traffic incidents?
The cost to all of us is dear: social, psychological, emotional, financial.
I heard an interview of a woman involved in the awful Jan. 21, 2011 40-car pileup on Ontario. She suffered PTSD as a result of watching the young woman who was pinned between her car and the next.
A fatal 40-vehicle pileup during snow squalls and harsh winds near Orillia left the 22-year-old woman dead. It is not just you, but the people around you who are impacted.

Two die in Sarnia chain reaction crash; OPP say highway fatalities ...
Guelph Mercury
The province's police watchdog is investigating the deaths on Highway 402, ... enforcement following a spike in fatal collisions on Ontario highways.

Four tractor trailers, 2012-01-12; Five people injured in QEW multi-vehicle collision, Oct., 2011;

Renfrew mourns deaths of three teens killed in crash near Sudbury.

Snow tires are essential!

Safe-driving habits

What do you think the cause of these tragic numbers?

I believe the reckless passing and the speed many individuals use to get from point A to B.

How about clearing that roof? Snomageddon, 2010

Look out!

In front of our driveway, they whip out and pass without looking.
The last time, they passed a slower truck,
he honked to let them know about an oncoming car.

head up!

Giant intake of breath!

Vacation, hurry up!
Let's pass two cars at once, with a trailer!

Let's pass two cars at once!

My husband and I like to take Daycations, tripping around southern and central Ontario viewing our world. I cannot tell you the number of times we see those driving dangerously, endangering the lives of those around them.

Many pass unsafely. Many speed unnecessarily.

Winter in Ontario!

OPP Set to Increase Enforcement on Ontario Highways
Response to Recent Fatal Collisions
AURORA, ON, Jan. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - Less than one month into 2012 and Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) statistics indicate the number of people that have lost their lives on OPP patrolled highways has more than doubled over the same period last year.

Love those snowplows!

Two die in fatal crash on Hwy. 17 near Alfred \| CTV Ottawa
►►	3 Jan 2012 Alfred fatal crash, Orleans man dies ...killed in a head- on crash.

Visit the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Winter Driving - Be Prepared be Safe website.

Construction zone, garbage truck,
someone had to pass it!
This is the only through road in Bala, Ontario!

There is much information there for those who drive our roads.

For Ontario provincial highway information, call: Traveller Information Service @ 511 OR on the Internet.

This Winter Driving brochure can be found online. It is excellent, and includes recommended items for a safety kit.

BBDE in Lanark County

2012-01-19T08:00:00.004-05:00

Answering questions from the public!

Photos from our fine local firefighters, BBDE in Lanark County, the ones who are called to the scene to use the jaws of life, and other means to rescue or recover bodies. Great photos on the Lanark County site. These were from a demonstration in Perth, Ontario last spring.

Trip through the bog

2012-01-18T08:56:00.000-05:00

I have a grand time going out for walks. With my GPS I can track my trips. The road is never far away, I don't truly need it for navigation, but it tells me where I have been, how far and how fast my trips.
I did 44 minutes, 1.1 km on snowshoes, through a semi-frozen bog.
Here is my track.

This is what the bog looks like in winter. I popped in some photos of the bog in summer, as the contrast is amazing!

Property markers: 4 cost us nearly $900!

This is water in summer.
Everyone likes to use this path!

This open spot is frozen, but not all of it is solid.

I'm still getting soakers in the middle
if I don't wear my snowshoes!

Salamanders sleep, frog, tadpoles, minnows
all are asleep.

These trees fell over during the drought in August.

The resulting cave is sanctuary for something!

Who is missing?

Don't you love rabbits?

2012-01-17T08:53:00.004-05:00

It's a long front porch.

They've been out under our bird feeder. They've left their droppings. Fertilizer, I suppose!

I had a great day: workout in the morning, then a long snowshoe in the afternoon.

Noticing what I thought were squirrel tracks, I hadn't thought about it, but I knew they are diurnal, not nocturnal. Their back legs are long and leave a distinct long back leg mark.

red squirrel R.I.P.

Chickadees love this feeder.
Blue jays dominate the big one in the backyard!

We sat in the living room to watch TV in the evening. Hearing a banging on the front window, we looked out. You can see the window in this photo. The steps go up, and the porch goes across.
I thought the noise was one of the cats in the window. Wrong.

Now, I have seen lots of tracks on the porch, but I thought they were squirrel tracks. The back legs are similar: long, paired, with the two wee front paws.

What I found was that a rabbit had hopped up the steps and was looking for food that had dropped from the feeder. I'm not sure why it was banging on the window!

"Let me in! It's cold out here!"

I'd forgotten, but we had a large rabbit in our Toronto backyard when I was a kid!
Sue bunny!
Here I am with my father and brother.
I don't remember the dog at all!

The rabbits are about all the time here in Lanark County.
I could not catch a good photo out in the dark, but have lots of photos from summer visits.

I captured this little guy in the long grass,
just before I used the lawn tractor last summer!

Here is the bigger one last summer,
perhaps Momma!

We have motion sensor lights, and spotted the rabbit on its way as it tripped the lights.
I didn't know Labbit knew how to use the stairs! We call them Labbit, in honour of 4-year-old Josephine, who couldn't say |R| last year.

It froze in the flash!

I love walks with my granddaughter.
She is both a princess, and a warrior. She'll dress up, but she'll also go out with me on walks to go find poo!

(Bear, deer, rabbit, raccoon, turkey – we have it all!)

A rabbit was using this at some point.
A natural covering and sanctuary.
This is a photo from the my bog walk.

I managed a video of Labbit the other day. It is dark, you can see it below. I used the night setting – best I could do.

I love how they poop as they hop along!

Rabbit/squirrel look similar!
Long back legs, with smaller front legs

I tried to brighten the video in iMovie, it didn't work well, but you get the idea!

Talk about your multi-grains!

2012-01-16T09:45:00.001-05:00

My morning granola had a bit extra: a waxy bit of extra something.

I usually add dried cranberries to it, but this was a shock!

Low in fat, source of fibre, calcium and iron!

Microloans - the jury is out

2012-01-16T08:08:00.003-05:00

I like the idea of Kiva microloans. People who cannot get credit elsewhere. In countries where people need just a bit of a loan to get themselves a bit ahead. I remember borrowing money from my parents after needing a place to live.
Here are some of the people/groups in my portfolio:

Here is my 49th loan recipient!

Vafa

Personal Products Sales

Azerbaijan

Raising funds

49% raise
d

I've made 49 loans, and all but 6 have been paid back.

Of these loans, 91.67% have been made to women. Having been a single mom, this is my choice!
The sectors where I have given my loans:

29% retail
27% food
18.8% agriculture

I just don't know. I believe in research data, but my loan do/ not support what I have seen in the media.

Only five to ten percent of women who take out microloans are able to escape poverty, according to research by the German journalist Gerhard Klas. For his book on microfinance, published this year, Klas interviewed scores of women in remote villages in Bangladesh. Some forty percent were worse off due to microloans.

I find this hard to believe, based on my statistics.

Critics say small loans hurt the poor


	Microcredits have long been seen as an effective and simple tool to help the poor turn their lives around. Yet researchers are increasingly questioning whether microfinance programs are really a solution for everyone.

Feels cold, looks beautiful!

2012-01-15T09:26:00.001-05:00

10:55 a.m. Jan. 14th

Clear, cold and sunny!

OK. I thought yesterday morning was cold.

How much colder could it get?

It was bitterly cold using the snowblower. I started to use the shovel, but changed me mind.
The wind had scattered the snow across my freshly done driveway. After doing the back deck, I couldn't feel my baby fingers! Back indoors, I double-gloved, well, gloved underneath my heavy mitts. That helped. It's different than walking, as your hands are frozen to the snowblower handle!

8 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012

This morning was a bit more frosty. I'm planning a walkabout. I think the snowshoes will be important. Double-gloves and face protection.

We have about a foot of snow.

It's not so bad if you keep moving.
Poor JB went out to feed frozen deer and fetch the paper.

Nice snow cover protects the plants

Trees are still droopy with the ice pellets that froze on their branches.

At our favourite pub they were worried.
Hope they managed a Tebow!

Yes, late lunch in the pub after a failed attempt to take photos at the Habitat Build. (Long story involving lack of steel-toed boots!)

One server at O'Reilly's was trying to duct tape brooms to long-handled implements in order to clear off the satellite receiver. He wouldn't let me take a photo! He was atop a ladder. (Been there done that– photo to prove it!)
What else can one do in subzero temps but watch TV?!

BTW
I had a question about ice pellets. Don't know the difference between that and freezing rain. But the pellets were not rounded like frozen rain, but squared off and angular!

What a storm!

2012-01-14T11:17:00.000-05:00

Cold, snowy day!

Yes, another one. First, it started with freezing rain, then ice pellets.

The ice pellets were underneath all this snow. I began shovelling Friday night, in the balmy near zero C. temperatures.

Ice pellets were a pain!

The clacking was amazing.

Listen in the video! The oak leaves on the tree made a great sound, too.

covered in ice pellets

So much snow: total 20cm!

Then the ice pellets changed to snow, then back to rain, then back to snow! Giant flakes –you know the kind. The poor deer were covered in hail, then snow.

This morning the deer were huddled in the -20 C. temperatures.

trees sag with the weight of the ice pellets and then snow

The back deck: nearly 20 cm, my hand span is 8"!

A pretty morning, but very cold.

I had to do the driveway again!!!

Red squirrel, turkey, deer: Rain, snow, sleet, hail – climate change or normal cycles?

2012-01-14T08:12:00.003-05:00

red squirrel: feed me!

I don't know.

All I know is that we have grumpy cats.
Poor old Buster wants out to watch the blue jays and mourning doves by the feeder, and the red squirrel that is 'stealing' bird food!

After two days of freezing rain, ice pellets, and snow, the cats go out, shake off their paws, and come back in!

But Buster hollers and scratches to get out.

This deer looked so miserable!

The wild turkeys are hollering down in the lower meadow. Not sure what that is about.

You can hear their turkey songs on the video below, as well as the chickadees!

Shoveled this yesterday, Thursday.
It's back today, Friday, followed by a dump of snow!

For more critters photos, visit this meme:

Camera Critters #197

Play on (in?) the lake begins! Bless our volunteer firefighters

2012-01-13T12:54:00.001-05:00

Mississippi Lake, near Carleton Place,
Lanark County

Yes, not the typical summer play, but the winter play ––on not very solid ice!

I say, women, make your spouses sign their wills before leaving. Now, I know many families engage in these activities, but it would be prudent, with the number of young men who nearly drown, to prepare ahead.

BLess our BBDE volunteer firefighters

EMS crews, make them pay for the rescue. Bless our BBDE volunteer firefighters who have to play around the water, too!

Jan 13, 2012

Water rescue on Mississippi Lake

by Staff

PERTH - Two men were rescued after falling through the ice on Mississippi Lake Thursday night. (Jan. 12, 2012)

And incidents are not limited to Ontario, with a VERY mild fall/winter...

Ice fisherman fights frostbite after Lake Winnipeg rescue

CBC.ca‎ - 18 hours ago

A man whose truck went through the ice on Lake Winnipeg is dealing with severe ... He and friend Jody Saniuk, 51, were taking part in an ice-fishing derby ...

Yes, ice fishing, another risky sport in this era of climate change.

See the open water near the ice hut?!

Then there are the ice fishing huts! Legally, they must be registered.

Ice huts must be registered, MNR says
EMC News –To protect the environment and ensure safety, anglers must register new or previously unregistered ice fishing huts on area lakes, notes the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

The huts are quite a hoot.

A family affair

In this case, the owners ought to be liable for not removing them in good time!
OPP warn against people one the ice near bubblers. These bubble to keep docks free of ice!

This one sunk:

Shack is tip of the iceberg

April 13, 2011 A shack from the ice fishing season was not removed off King’s Bay on Mississippi Lake, close to Scotch Corners in Beckwith Township.

I took a walk in the bog, in spring the water is three feet or about a metre deep. Even THAT is not solid!

My soaker in the bog!

On a recent bog trip, I sunk down into water in the middle.

How people think the lakes are solid is beyond me.

The edges are wet under the trees, the middle is wet underneath. We've had such warm temperatures lately.

I took this just before my soakers!

It looks frozen–but it is not!

RULING: going nude through TIm Hortons drive-thru is against the law!

2012-01-13T09:28:00.000-05:00

I have followed this story with interest. A man driving nude through a Muskoka drive-thru: twice: Tim Hortons and A & W.
The court has finally come down with a judgement: GUILTY! I am relieved.

Ontario man found guilty in nude drive-thru incident ...www.thestar.com/.../1114589--ontario-man-found-guilty-in-nude-dri...

18 hours ago – Brian Coldin was found guilty of partial nudity that offended public order... At Coldin's trial, A&W and Tim Hortons workers testified he was nude

You don't need to read it all, to determine that this is arrogant. Just read the news headlines!
I am so happy that the judge has ruled this way. For young kids to be exposed to naked men in public is really shocking. This is a win for the public.

Muskoka'a cottage country is beautiful

Here are my two posts, with more info:

1. Public nudity - save us from them!

UPDATE: Court told of threats, ATV chase
Matt Driscoll, Nov 03, 2010 - 5:55 PM
The public nudity advocate is also facing charges:

2. Watch yourself at the drive through!

I wonder why a famous lawyer, Clayton Ruby, defending a case feels the need to write a Letter to the editor: There's no harm in nudity ?

I believe that we cannot determine the intent of Coldin's actions. Walking around his property nude, while he was in a park, is a slippery slope. There are sexual innuendos here. He and his 3 male buddies, went through the drive-through nude. What's with this? As a woman, dealing with the fear of walking about alone in the dark, I could easily feel scared. As a child I remember walking through a Toronto park, shortcut on the way home from school, and seeing a flasher, or seeing a man sitting in his car on a downtown Toronto street, flashing his penis for me, a youngster at the time. Those were sick people. Can we imagine that this man is any more sane?

Here is one excerpt from CottageCountryNow.com:

Shock, tears, as nudity trial begins

Court also heard today from Arlene Corbett, who was working as a supervisor at the Bracebridge Tim Hortons’ drive-thru on Depot Drive in May of last year. She testified that a young employee working alongside her that day turned away from the window and exclaimed “Oh my God, there’s a naked man.”

Love this sign!

Court heard that Coldin and three other naked men had ordered coffee at the pickup window. Corbett said she knew Coldin from previous business dealings, and gave the men their order, along with some stern advice. “I handed him his coffee and told him to cover up the next time he comes through or he wouldn’t receive any service,” said Corbett. “He half-smiled at me and drove away with his coffee.”

According to media reports from the trial’s opening day, a woman working at the Bracebridge A&W drive-thru testified seeing Coldin and two other naked men drive up to her window in the spring of last year. The woman was in tears as she spoke to the court, media reports sai

kids are watching, too!

d.
Another witness told the court Monday he and his family were visiting the High Falls park area when they came across Coldin naked. The man said he took a photo of Coldin to show to the authorities, and Coldin demanded it be deleted. The stressful encounter made his young children cry, he testified.

Nudity not intended to offend, says Coldin

Court | Dec 01

BRACEBRIDGE — Brian Coldin spent the morning in the hot seat...
Arguments on the case resume on July 5th, 2011.

I've got bugs!

2012-01-12T09:17:00.000-05:00

The white snow, with deer tracks,
and bugs gather at the low spot
on a mild winter's day.

Bug on camera, I mean!

In summer we have wonderful green trees, leaves, brightly coloured flowers, but in winter it gets pretty monotone.

We've had a warm spell, with above freezing temperatures. It feels like April, truly.

Lots of dirty, white melting snow.
Lots of little black snow fleas!

They are incredibly difficult to photograph. This is my attempt #2!

snow flea in the macro lens
This photography is harder than it looks!

Look at the size of it on my dirty thumbnail!

Yes, they serve a purpose!

Hard to believe their size.

Snow fleas
(Hypogastrura harveyi and Hypogastrura nivicola) are species of springtail. They spring about on snow on plus zero days like today. They are really a dark blue colour, about 1 - 2 mm long. With no wings, they spring about on the snow by a catapult: two tail-like furcula on their lower abdomen.
They have short antennae, and have two eye clusters (with 16 eyes in each). (Check out both links for better close-ups than mine! But they are creepy in macro!)
They have a purpose: they eat decaying organics as well as bacteria, fungi, algae, pollen, round worms and rotifers.
In spring they mate, females lay eggs, the nymphs molt a few times and by winter they are adults.
Snow Fleas, and other springtails, include: beetles, ants, mites, centipedes, chiggers, salamanders, and other small insect-eaters. (Didn't notice any on my walkabout!)

Here's lookin' at you, sweetheart

2012-01-11T12:25:00.000-05:00

Buster is fascinated!

Buster likes to watch the wildlife of all shapes and sizes.

Mourning doves in the sunshine!

Love the feathers.

These wild turkeys were in our backyard. I had help taking their photos through the window!

CLose eyes!

2012-01-10T11:48:00.022-05:00

Well, this was my fault.
We were babysitting one weekend!
This was the cheapest toy!

This is our granddaughter. She loves to dress up.

Time for nail polish!
Her other gramma did this!

Caitlin and Jofee

This was a present from Uncle Robbie!

She loves her jewels!

face painting!

Our family tradition, 'close eyes', in preparation for receiving a gift.
The last best present was a $2 dress from our local 'antique' 2nd hand shop!

HOME ISN'T A PLACE - IT'S A FEELING

2012-01-10T09:30:00.000-05:00

Emily, all geared up!
Hard hats and boots
are required for all!

I interviewed Emily, a Habitat for Humanity house recipient in Muskoka. The build is nearing completion.

 The requirement for house recipients is that they put 500 sweat equity hours into their new home. They feel a part of the whole process by investing their time and energy into the project. Sometimes, for many reasons, individuals are unable to put in the physical sweat equity, in this case family and extended family members put their time in, too.

With many myths about people who belong to the working class, we face many from other walks of life who belong to the NIMBY camp. Not In My Back Yard.  For newly single parents, as I was in 1993 who had to cough up first and last month's rent, only to be handed over to a landlord, paying a mortgage is a much better way of spending your hard-earned money. Mortgages are geared to income for Habitat recipients.

Emily is a delightfully positive person. More visibly fitting to wield her camera, rather than a hammer and hard hat. She is slim, petite, but determined. I love her energy and spirit, which comes through in her contact with me.

My visit, Aug. 7th, 2011

July 6, 2011!

I visited the site in August, 2011, but it is a 6-hour drive from my current home. We called Muskoka our cottage country for 50 years. I visited Torrance to see my parent's gravesite, and popped in to see the build site.

The interview was done long-distance, as I have never met Emily, but have become friends through Facebook's Habitat Muskoka website.

I admire her strength, her energy and her commitment to her home. She just jumps in and grabs a hammer wherever needed.

My daughter worked on the Bala Build when we were living there.

Marks Work Warehouse team, Bala, 2010

I know what it meant to the groups who put time into the Bala Build: Marks Work Warehouse sent a team. They dug trenches, got their hands dirty, and had a great time.

It is a profound feeling to be a part of this kind of a project.

Here is Emily's interview:

HOME ISN'T A PLACE - IT'S A FEELING

What does it mean to you to have a home like this?

The sensation of peace on a cozy, rainy Sunday; the feeling of relief when you pull into the driveway after a long day; a quiet kiss on the head of my children asleep in bed. Home has been many places for me over the years, but its comforts are defined by simple, blissful moments like these.

What does it mean to your immediate family?

Home is being around people who can drive you absolutely crazy one moment and make you feel like a million dollars the next. It’s knowing that no matter how hard times get, someone is there for you.

What has your life been like until now and how will it change, owning your own home?

The security and piece of mind that comes with home ownership is a great accomplishment in many people’s lives, and once they have overcome the obstacles, they find that other goals they had set out to achieve become much easier to attain.

What do you do for a living?

I am a dietary aide at an upscale retirement residence and a freelance photographer.

Can you estimate how many volunteers have been involved in this project?

I would say close to 50 different people from all walks of life have appeared on site.

How many hours do you think you've spent working on your own home so far?

I have personally worked nearly 300 hours, and have enjoyed every minute.

Can you speak to the 'not a hand out but a hand up' phrase?

December, 2011

A hand out is something you just give someone. A hand up is offering something to someone that teaches so much more. It's like the old saying teaching one how to fish so they may catch their own.

What have you learned about building a home? 
Who can you count on, to maintain your home once you own it?

I have myself, and my many new-found skills, plus many, many new friends more skilled than I.

Has your family put in sweat equity?

Yes, nearly all of my children save for the youngest has swung a hammer or two.

How does your extended family feel about this project?

Everyone is thrilled and excited.  They know, like us, it is a dream come true.

Photo credits: these are Emily's photos, except for my Aug. 7th visit and Bala photos. Courtesy to Emily for granting me permission to post her photos and taking the time to respond to my interview!

Deer friends – Tigger is back

2012-01-09T09:09:00.001-05:00

Well, I think he is back. He was the cutest little fawn. He was one of a set of twins.

When I took poor old Oliver for walks in the forest Tigger would follow us!
We cannot tell most of our deer apart, except for their behaviour.

There was a group of seven, with a mom who made sure her twins ate first, then the other four were allowed at the feed.

Isn't he handsome!
We didn't know he was a he until he visited later.

He was fascinated with Oliver.

Here he was, his sibling was a ways behind Tigger.
This was November, 2010.

Tigger had a wound at one point.
Probably from some wire fencing

And then I spotted him in the grass.
He really surprised me!

He has grown some,
and now we know he is a he!

I could only tell it was Tigger by his behaviour.

He bounced and he approached us for food.

Most of them are quite cautious around us.
The neighbouring 35 acre property is uninhabited, and is used as a part-time hunting area.
I've posted many signs on our perimeter, forbidding hunting on our land.

Here is the only other male I've seen.
Most are on the other side of the highway.

Handsome fellow, our Tigger!

The males stick together, as do the females. We seldom see males around here. The more darkly coloured buck was the one I spotted last year. Haven't seen him since!

The ladies line up behind him.
What are they staring at?
Felix, hunting birds!

I'm pretty sure this is him!
We only seem to have females around.

Hunting camp

2012-01-09T09:08:00.000-05:00

This is where they sit to hunt on the neighbouring property.
I took a walk as I wanted to see how close they are to us.
A wetland bog separates us, but it is not wide.
The gun fire is very close.

Cat walkies - snow up to their armpits!

2012-01-07T09:14:00.000-05:00

Love our critters! Visit more here

Both kittens love to watch the birds
from our front window!

First job: to shovel the walk.
They approve...

Yesterday, Buster sat huddled under the conifer tree in the photo (left).

Felix went up onto his grassy knoll, then came for a brief walk with me into the back yard as I fed the birds.

Felix came in.
Buster sat for an hour under the tree – in the cold.

Hubby went to the door, to call Buster in, he had to be cold, and Felix roared out and grabbed a bird from Buster.
I found the evidence later, as did Buster, the loser in the whole deal!
Boys...

Buster (right) looks ticked off, Felix stares upward.
"I didn't take your bird!"

Poor slow bird!

After I cleared off the driveway
both thought they'd like to walk down it.
Instead, I took them onto Oliver's Lot.

Looking for mice friends!

Snow stuck to his tail!
Buster, with shorter fur, doesn't have this problem!

Felix follows the deer path.
They thoughtfully tramp down the snow.

Then there are the turkeys!

Canadians – polite people or private complainers

2012-01-06T15:47:00.097-05:00

Sometimes all it takes is a phone call!

Is it just me, or are Canadian just complainers? We bitch in line. We don't do anything about poor services, long wait times, being ignored in a store, or cranky servers.

We do not write letters.
We do not speak to managers.
We don't phone head office.
We do not speak to servers directly.
We do not teach people how to treat us.
We COMPLAIN privately!
We whine with friends.

This gives us the opportunity to complain about something other than the weather, I suppose!

Ontario Today had a show on which they invited people to phone in with customer service horror stories. Friday: Worst Customer Service
Ever Cranky sales people; non-existant staff; quibbling over return policies.

Their guest, a trainer: Shawn Belding, with a book and agency to flog, was the feature on this show. He offered some solutions, but we heard story after story of poor service and bad treatment.
Some phone-in callers spoke about getting on a store PS system and calling for service, and leaving the store. We have to be proactive.

Marketplace, another CBC show, is beginning the 2012 season with Canada's Worst Customer Service. They share frustrating customer shopping experiences and a poll.
"All research was conducted via an online survey.

For more details on our results: Read the full executive summary (PDF 585KB)"

(Not the best source of data!)

Marketplace set hidden cameras. They focused on the negative. They put an actor in to be purposefully rude. They surely didn't focus on the reverse: how rude, ignorant, demanding customers shape the service the NEXT customer receives!

They don't feature stores who do well in this area. They cite a number of complaints, and don't tell us what we can do. Yes, retail and customer services jobs are fairly low-paid, but this cannot be an excuse.

Canada's Worst Customer Service

Erica Johnson was interviewed on CBC Radio to promote the show. She stated, 'As a society Canadians are too polite!'

I disagree. Yes, many do not make a formal complaint. We prefer to complain to those we meet about how we have been treated horribly.
We complain on Facebook.
We complain to friends.
We walk out of stores.

This is only half of the story, however. I wonder how they behaved for their part of the interaction?!

What we CAN do!
Shop locally, become a locavore, frequent stores where you become familiar.
Be a good customer. Be polite, patient, wait your turn in line.
Eschew the big box stores and chains. In the Marketplace show, the worst were Walmart, Canadian Tire, and Zellers. Their bottom line is profit, poor quality goods you must throw out sooner rather than later, poorly paid employees who are cogs in the wheel.

Hubby on the phone with Bell!

What we can do is to make a formal complaint.
Not a quiet one behind a person's back. I have found if I speak to the offending party, it makes a difference. Barring that, you speak to a manager or supervisor. Of course, if you are talking to a large corporation, with employees who have little vested interested in improving service (Bell, Rogers, etc.!) you are often out of luck. But you can record your interactions, note employee names or numbers, the time and date of your call. We have had a month of service reimbursed from this strategy. Marketplace explains How to Get Better Customer Service, but this is after the fact.

Remember the broken guitar on United Airlines? Some days you just don't get satisfaction. Don't take it out on the employees who were not involved. When you phone a corporation, keep your cool.

What we can do is highlight CEOs who do well for their customers and their employees. One such person in Leonard Lee, CEO of Lee Valley Tools.
His stores are closed on Sunday to allow employees to be with family members.
He limits his salary, and gives 25% of the profits back to employees.
His employees include those with grey hair, like mine, who know what they are talking about.

Remember my story about this dude?
Called me old and a prude!
I'd asked him to turn down his vulgar YouTube video!

If a product goes on sale within a certain period of time, his company will send the customer a refund of the difference. (I know – I've had one!)

This is about:

Policy: returns policies, customer policy, head office pronouncements
Processes: the ease of doing business with a business
Personnel: training, the number of staff, pay and benefits, product knowledge seminars
Practices: expectations, complaints processes, relationships with customers, resolving customer and employee conflict.

This woman made a difference:

Papa John's customer Minhee Cho tweeted a photo of a receipt she received at a Papa John's restaurant in uptown, New York City. In it, under the customer's name section, the restaurant employee who rang up the order used the racial slur "lady chinky eyes" to describe her.

UPDATE: Papa John's has responded to the incident on Facebook. A post on its official page reads:

We were extremely concerned to learn of the receipt issue in New York. This act goes against our company values, and we've confirmed with the franchisee that this matter was addressed immediately and that the employee is being terminated. We are truly sorry for this customer's experience.

The company has also addressed the matter on its Twitter feed, tweeting to multiple people that "We have issued an apology, are reaching out to customer & franchise employee is being terminated."

Skywatch Friday - here comes another one!

2012-01-06T09:44:00.003-05:00

Heavy clouds to the south!

Walkies in the morning, the sky showed what was on our way. A couple of inches of snow.

The skies cleared, I took my boys for a walk!

Buster on the driveway!

Too bad the hydro wires are in the way!

On the way back from a milk run that evening at the local general store, the sky and sun met.
I was nearly run off the road, with people speeding by me. But I pulled over to take some photos.
Here are more, if you are so inclined! Visit:

Skywatch Friday

Felix watching for mice friends in the snow

2012-01-05T06:17:00.000-05:00

Buster in the sunshine

Only -15C., he is a brave little one. The days are getting colder. I didn't take them out until the late morning, when things had warmed up a tad. What *is* the difference between -18 and -15? Not much, actually! The sun was a blessing in the front room.

On one of the coldest days this winter, Felix and Buster went out to play. Felix was keep watch beside the stone bridge (mice friends). Buster was watching the birds. Buster wanders over under the other pine tree and stares into the grassy knoll.

Turns out his deer friends were out there. Then the turkeys turned up!

The turkeys weren't happy with me!

Scraping under the bird feeder for crumbs

they tolerate one another

I love our visitors. A deer stood outside under the tree for a half hour, she had a sign 'won't work for food'!
At -18 C. this morning, she just stood there. Buster hid under the porch, fascinated.

Book Review: Left Neglected

2012-01-04T05:56:00.000-05:00

By Lisa Genova

I must admit, I wasn't prepared for too much. I reviewed Genova's previous book, Still Alice, and I wasn't thrilled with it. I learned a lot, but wasn't happy with the novel. Still Alice was much too didactic, with the author using the novel to explain Early Onset Alzheimer Disease, and the neuroscience of brain issues to her readers. I wondered if this book, Left Neglected, based on the main character's brain injury, and her fight for recovery, might have the same feeling: university professor lecturing to readers. (Lisa Genova has a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Harvard!)

Fortunately, this wasn't true for this novel. This novel is much more compelling. Yes, people with brain injuries often work hard to overcome their disabilities, and this can be a positive life lesson. There is much their families must learn. With Alzheimer's we know the ending, as plaque build up slowly shuts down executive functioning, confounds abstract thinking skills, and then claims the normal character of the person we knew. If you would like to read about this, you need only visit a couple of blogs: Our Journey Through Alzheimer's, for example. Still Alice broke one's heart, in this respect.

This novel is much better. Genova has learned more about using the novel to educate, while keeping the form of setting, character development, and plot. This novel has hope, while we learn about the nuances of recovering from or adapting to a brain injury. That can doom a reader who isn't engaged, or has any investment in the outcome.

In my situation, I work and volunteer with a number of people who have suffered strokes, have limited income, and many have complicated disabilities. For anyone who works with such clients, this novel will help with an understanding of the frustration of dealing with diminished capacity from the point of view of client/patient. In some cases, hopes change, as permanent damage is witnessed, but this is all part of the journey.

Once the author established some humanity in the character, I began to like her and hope for her! The first few chapters I found rather tedious, having lived the life of a working mom, but it is essential to developing the novel's framework. I didn't have much empathy for the character, let alone sympathy, until a few chapters in. On the other hand, I realized that I didn't exactly share the perspective of this character: a working mom of three children, with a nanny, two-parent family, huge mortgage, living in an affluent suburb of Boston. It is hard to identify with her in many respects. That said, she does have the humanity of an Oprah guest: she is sharing her lessons with us, as we working mothers fight to be all we can be.
It is a good read. I recommend it to any and all.

From another reviewer:

Left Neglected is artfully told, managing to hold the reader in the story while exploring the curious condition of Left Neglect, also known as Hemispatial Neglect.

Read an excerpt.

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Book Review: Left Neglected

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