tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17807694364113484542024-03-13T02:12:10.533-06:00CHROME ON THE RANGE<center><br><b>Exploring events, anomalies, and curiosities of ordinary, every-day Life.<br>Including the just plain Weird. Or Funny. Or Sad. Or Thought-provoking.<br><br>
Come along. Enjoy the ride. Share your thoughts.</b><br><br>
<i>For explanation of title, picture credit, and my approach to blogging, see the bottom of the page. <br>Fellow travellers, and their thoughts, are in the sidebar.</i>
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<b>Here are Bear's other blogs, and extra information.</b></center>Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.comBlogger360125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-39528268154901073002013-04-06T18:21:00.000-06:002013-04-06T18:21:32.877-06:00BEAR HAS MOVED ON.<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If you're looking for me, I'm not here. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I have moved to <a href="http://bears-noting.blogspot.com/">Bears Noting</a>, my old blog. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Blessings and Bear hugs to all! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">~ Bear</span></div>
Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-15227708299072374202013-03-26T16:26:00.002-06:002013-03-26T16:26:59.553-06:00YES!!!!! I THINK IT IS SPRING!<h2>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To Begin at the Beginning</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Water on my head.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Chinese water torture! Aaaaarrrrrgggggghhhhh!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Wait a minute. There's nobody else here!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Snif. Snif. Although the place does smell a bit of coyote. Peculiar. I had a dream that a coyote had come to visit me. Strange; very strange. Do you ever have a dream, when you're starting to wake up, and you're not sure if it's a dream or something more tangible? Strange. Odd. Puzzling. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Must mean my roof is leaking. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Which means snow is melting outside.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Scramble. Crawl. Lurch towards to opening of my den.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Snout out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The sun is bright, but not blinding. Sky is blue and cloudless, with a bit of haze on the horizon. The snow is melting; I can see lots of snirt. ("Snirt": that's a Canadian word, meaning a mixture of snow and dirt — a good thing at this time of year.) The air is fresh. Moreover, it smells like spring. Aaaaaaah!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">You need to understand that smell is very important to us Bears. (Or is it "we Bears"?) It is also very keen. As per the the following First Nation's (Indian, Aboriginal) story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">A pine needle fell from a tree in the forest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The Eagle saw it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The Deer heard it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The Bear smelled it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">(A story about the relative strengths of certain Critters. The Eagle's strong eyes see just about everything. The Deer's ears, always up and twitching, pick up almost every sound. And he Bear's nose — well, we've been through that.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So, back to the routine of non-winter living? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Stretch. Yawn. Grrrrrr? Maybe. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Decision time. Do I go back to sleep or start looking for food? Actually, I'm feeling hungry. I think I can smell some fresh grass, and some berries.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Crawl. Squeeze. And I'm . . . out of the den. Strange, though. It was a lot easier getting out this spring than it was getting in last autumn. Why is that? Did the hole get bigger? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">No matter. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Now, to find the foxes who wanted to rent my place for a family home over the summer. I'll check on them after something to eat. From the sun, I'd say it is too late for lunch, but too early for supper. It will be "lupper." (Another Canadian word; mid-afternoon meal between lunch and supper — the afternoon equivalent of "brunch.")</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<h2>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Changes in My Life</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">But I'm going to be doing things differently this year. This blog is going into archive. I don't live on the range anymore. I live in the urban forest, in a cave ablve the tree tops (which is also related to the title of my poetry blog, called </span><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><i>Life in the Urban Forest</i></b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">). More important, I want to talk about what Bears Noting in the world, particularly the urban world. So that is where you will find me — at </span><a href="http://bears-noting.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Bears Noting</a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> — my original blog. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">For those of you who have been following me around and about in my adventures on the range — thank you very much for keeping me company, and adding your own delights to my journey. I invite you to join me at <a href="http://bears-noting.blogspot.com/">Bears Noting</a>, where you are most welcome. You'll find the same kind of writing there which you have found here — more or less. I will certainly try to keep my posts Bear-able for Humans. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The other thing you can be Noting is that in April, based in <a href="http://bears-noting.blogspot.com/">Bears Noting</a>, Bear will undertake to participate in the annual A-Z Challenge (if they hold it again). That means blogging almost every day — which will be very challenging and should keep me busy and out of trouble. (<i>Bear, who are you kidding? The regular readers all know you can get into "interesting situations" at the drop of a hat.</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, now for our moving adventure to <a href="http://bears-noting.blogspot.com/">Bears Noting</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And while I'm thinking, maybe I'll spend part of the summer at my tent on Blogland Lane. Too early to settle on that, though. Just a thought.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Blessings and Bear hugs, as always! (Now, where are those berries?)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>P.S.: If you're looking for my above-mentioned poetry blog, it's <a href="http://in-the-urban-forest.blogspot.com/">here</a>. I don't write that much poetry, but some people like what I do, so I keep doing it. And I always keep hoping to do more.</i></span>Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-61449187474377132692013-03-20T18:08:00.000-06:002013-03-20T18:24:27.520-06:00I GOT A SHOCK TODAY<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Actually, I got a couple.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">An Unusual Awakening</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Many of you have experiences of canines; experiences which are quite different from mine. (Canine as in <i>canis lupus</i>, better known as Dog. Only in my case, it was <i>canis latrans</i>, better known as Coyote.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My friend Nick was there, nose almost touching my face. (For those who let their Dogs sleep on the bed, this may be a somewhat customary experience. In my case, no!) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Talk about waking up with a shock! And the worst case of "spring breath" I've smelled in years! He hasn't been eating well. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So I screamed, "Nick! What are you doing! Are you trying to scare me to death!"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nick apologized, saying he was just checking to see if I was awake. I assured him that I was. Now. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">After I got over my shock, I mentioned I as feeling hungry. Nick looked askance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"Don't worry, old friend," I said. "I won't eat you. I had something about the size of a Squirrel in mind. Nothing too big for my first meal."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Nick understood that; he nodded his head.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"So what's it like outside?" I asked, because my cave did not appear to be too bright. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"Well," said Nick, "not so great. Check it out for yourself."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And so I did. Scramble. Crawl. Pull myself to the door. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Snout out. Which led to my second surprise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Inclement Weather</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Cold. Actually snowing, blowing, and cold!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"Nick," I bellowed, "why didn't you warn me?"</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Nick was non-plussed. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">He replied, "You've got a heavy Bearskin coat; I've only got a Dog coat. Obviously things are going to feel different for you than for me. So I thought you could decide for yourself what it's like."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Now, Nick is pretty bright; I'll give him that. And he's kind and helpful, despite your image of a Coyote. But his social skills are — how can I put this nicely — in need of considerable refinement. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"You woke me up for nothing," I said, as I crawled back into bed." I'm waiting for Spring."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"But today is the first day of Spring," he replied. "I thought you would feel it in your bones." </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">No Nick, wrong again. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I pondered the situation a bit and finally said, "I'm going to try to get back into hibernation. It doesn't feel like spring out there, at all." I think I sounded a bit cross. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Nick paused for a moment. I knew he had something on his mind. He has this certain look. Probably going to ask for a scrap of food, though there's nothing here.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"Um, well, if you're going back into hibernation, can I stay and sleep here for a bit? I'm sure your Bearskin coat would be nice and warm."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">About what I expected. Bear and Coyote sharing a bed. Think Lion and Lamb. Well, OK; not so much.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"Whatever," I said and rolled over. Nick snuggled up against my back. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But it's so late, I wonder if I'll get back into hibernation mode. Especially with a Coyote sleeping beside me. Good grief; a canine on my bed.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-65641326913184386982013-03-05T13:47:00.000-06:002013-03-05T16:50:38.749-06:00HMMMM; THIS IS INTERESTING<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">BLINK. BLINK. Eyes open. Bright and sunny day!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Could it be spring? Bright enough for spring. Yet, it doesn't smell like spring. (But then, truth be told, I'm a more senior Bear, and my smeller doesn't function quite as well as it used to.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I'll stick out my snout and check. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Crawl. Wiggle. Scramble. Slide. To the entrance of my winter den.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Snout out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHRRRRRRR!!!!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The sun blinds me!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The sun in the sky blinds me! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The sun reflecting off the snow blinds me!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">No wonder I couldn't smell spring; it's still the middle of winter!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Grrrrrrrr! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Snout in. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Scramble. Crawl. Slide. Wiggle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Blink. Blink. My eyes still work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Back to bed; back to hibernating. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">See you anon. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Grrrrzzzzzzz!</span>Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-79826986260224689602013-02-02T22:59:00.000-06:002013-02-02T22:59:38.837-06:00YES, WELL . . .<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Sprong. Eyes open. Squish. Eyes shut — sunlight is way too strong.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Yawn. Stretch. Shake. Roll. Scratch. Crawl to the mouth of my cave. Bright sunlight; almost blinding — being reflected off the snow. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">False alarm. More time to hibernate. Sigh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">By the way, Groundhogs know the square root of zip about weather and the coming of spring. You want to know when spring starts? It starts when Bears quit hibernating. You can trust me on that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Stretch again. Scratch my back on the ground. Shake and settle back in. Grrrrzzzz . . .</span>Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-23790855210030084502012-12-14T18:07:00.000-06:002012-12-16T01:15:15.766-06:00FOCUS ON NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT <br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Blessings and Bear hugs from Canadian friends (human and ursine) in the wake of the horrid tragedy in Newtown. That's about all we can do, but it is the one thing we can do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">~ Bear</span>Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-45422089506017312822012-12-03T13:41:00.000-06:002013-01-26T01:50:35.493-06:00IN WHICH BEAR GETS "BOUNCED," AND SUFFERS ONGOING PROBLEMS<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To Begin at the Beginning</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The story is told (by A. A. Milne) of how a Strange Creature arrived one day at the Hundred Acre Wood. The "Forest" was the home of Pooh Bear, Piglet, Eeyore, and many others. The Strange Creature turned out to be Tigger, a Tiger, who was a friend of Christopher Robin. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Having a Tigger was not such a problem, except for one thing. Tigger was very Bouncy. And that disturbed the other characters in the Forest, particularly Rabbit. (In fact, Rabbit, Pooh, and Piglet developed a plan to Unbounce Tigger — it didn't work.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">All this is preface to my experience of being Bounced, as surely as if Tigger had landed on my bed first thing in the morning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">There was a meeting of the Animal Research Ethics Board last Wednesday at the University. The Board needs a couple of Community Representatives when it is going about its work. It's a matter of Transparency and Accountability — which are both Very Important Things. And, well, yes . . . I needed to be there. This, just after I had finally settled into Hibernation mode. And, well, yes . . . I got a reminder. The "ping" on my e-mail program woke me with a start; that's always unsettling! And, well, yes . . . I did go to the meeting (though I warned them at the outset that I was a tired and grouchy Bear). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Anyhow, we accomplished what we needed to, and that was good. I came home. I though I would fall back into Hibernation mode. I did not. I could not. I . . . um . . . ah . . . had been well and truly Bounced. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Now it is almost a week later, and my heart rate and breathing rate are nowhere close to Hibernation levels. Woe is me! I toss and turn, and am not comfortable. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Meanwhile, . . .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The situation has not been a total loss. Someone came along and painted the whole scene outside with hoar frost. Rather like a faerie wonderland.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">All quite nice, actually. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Then yesterday, and overnight, it snowed. And snowed. And snowed. And the river, already full of ice, almost froze over. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Yes, the scenery is delightfully wintry. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">But I'm stil not back to Hibernating!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Sigh!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Blessings and Bear Hugs, friends. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-52548015138241738322012-11-21T23:28:00.000-06:002012-11-21T23:28:47.552-06:00HIBERNATION TIME<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As you understand, gentle readers, we Bears do this hibernation thing every winter. It is in our nature. It is also much better than staying awake all winter. (Sorry about that, Human friends.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Even the weather seems hibernation-style.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This year, again, I will not have Her Ladyship, Miss Sadie, to look after things for me. I did meet her after worship at Knox Church one Sunday a while back. She is entirely healthy, and asked me to send her best regards to all of you. But she has absolutely no intention of leaving her country estate to live in the city. Ever. She was quite clear about that. Very emphatic. She much prefers to be served in luxury, frolic as she pleases, and howl with the coyotes (once she is safely inside).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">She did, of course, retain all her Royal titles. She is still Duchess of St. Swthyn's-Punt-on-Thames (though I hear the punt was scuttled this year to make way for Queen Elizabeth's grand anniversary flotilla on the Thames). Likewise, Duchess of Cardigan and Wooly Boots (or is it Muddy Boots; no matter, either would likely be correct, I believe). And also Warden of Offa's Dyke, by Royal Appointment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">For those not familiar with Offa's Dyke, also called Clawdd Offa</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">, it is an astonishing piece of military architecture, running roughly (very roughly) along the Welsh-English border. It was designed to keep Welsh barbarians from marauding in England, and/or English barbarians from marauding in Wales. As to the true nature of who the marauders are, you need to check with the descendants of the Marcher Lords or the descendants of Owain Glyndwr (the last Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales). Just do not expect to get "harmonious" reports from those sources.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">At any rate, Miss Sadie will not be here, so my blog will be silent, more or less. If there are some nice days, I might stick my snout out to see what is happening. I do not expect to be out at the beginning of February, or thereabouts. That is a festival reserved for the marmot called a "Ground Hog" and I shan't attempt to rival him on that occasion. (Besides, he usually doesn't have a clue about what's going on with the weather.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So: Merry/Happy Yule and Christmas, Blessed Easter, Happy New Year (and I hope you have a delightful time with all the festivals I have missed naming).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As always, blessings and Bear hugs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-69099395090595124692012-11-10T00:44:00.001-06:002012-11-10T11:15:20.083-06:00SNOW JOB! (with morning update)<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">We're having a regular winter blizzard in the land of the Bear. I would send you a picture, but the snow is so heavy, I cannot see anything outside because of the snow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">We had been warned, however, so J and I wrapped up our afternoon shopping trip about 10 minutes before things started getting really bad. </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">UPDATE: </span><span style="font-size: large;">With the morning sun, we can see some of the new beauty, particular the ice pans forming on the river.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You can also see how much the ice has filled in the south shore of the river (the area from the trees, on the shore, to the open water).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is snowing again; I can barely see across the river, and the snow is blowing sideways, instead of falling down. Total snowfall could reach 30 cms. (12 inches), but not likely around here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">We could get 25 centimetres (10 inches) of snow overnight, and winds up to 60 k/h (40 miles and hour). Enough to make things really "interesting" in the morning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">If you miss me for a few days, please don't panic. It just means the power has been knocked out by heavy snowfall. In case such an event occurs, we have lots of supplies to get us by. (It's not the first time we've lived through a big storm.) We've got:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">• blankets</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">• sweaters</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">• parkas</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">• food</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">• candles and flashlights</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">• battery powered radio</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">• cell phone and land line</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The people in Colorado, Minnesota, and Montana will understand this very clearly. Others, perhaps, not so much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Best way to get through this is to cuddle up in some blankets, especially with some body (as if we needed an excuse!). Can't afford to waste energy on a cold day! Besides, i</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">t's all part of the "be cool but stay warm" philosophy, which works so well up here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So, we'll just relax, and we'll be fine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">ON ANOTHER NOTE</span>, something for Remembrnce Day (which I think you Americans call "Veterans' Day"). I don't know what it is called in other places. J found this for me; it's called "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kX_3y3u5Uo">A Pittance of Time</a>," by Terry Kelly, a Canadian. Have a listen!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">ALSO</span>, I've been working on something for my <i>Bears Noting</i> (editorial) blog — a Canadian perspective on the US election, and what it might mean for us to the north. I thought it would be ready by now. But it's not. In fact, the more I edit it, the more it is turning into utter drivel. And if it does not improve radically, it will not see the light of day. I refuse to publish drivel. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Blessings and Bear hugs!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-22548048045414358882012-11-02T14:41:00.000-06:002012-11-02T14:42:01.116-06:00IT'S CALLED WINTER.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It happens about this time every year. (Around All Saints' Day.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Last night, we got rain. Which froze to the streets, and sidewalks, and whatever else it could. Then we got snow, about 15 centimetres (or 6 inches, if you still count things that way).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The process left the city with a nice blanket of white. Treacherous, but cute. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">But the city has slowed down, almost to a crawl. One pedestrian, no vehicles on the Broadway Bridge in the afternoon. Whoa; where did all the cars go?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It's a great day for an afternoon nap, or taking photos (from inside), or reading, or cleaning off one's desk, or writing poetry. (I put a little ditty about this on my <a href="http://in-the-urban-forest.blogspot.com/">poetry blog</a>.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It is not a great day for walking or driving a car. Unless, of course, you want to invite some sort of misadventure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Blessings and Bear hugs.</span><br />
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Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-16281005685897152142012-10-22T17:58:00.000-06:002012-10-22T17:58:12.603-06:00YES, THAT'S SNOW<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivF3AnuscuZWT_Gn4G3x2OWEePKidIzuyXQwuBQhlPh9h2_4LkHlYe-5h-JTvgkI1vOl_hGkCYjPhuwkXHpaduM2IEDM7hz0jrO91slqgdSRe-cxH9vyo6MTOyv58aE1RbIksRM9y_cSw/s1600/IMG_1133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivF3AnuscuZWT_Gn4G3x2OWEePKidIzuyXQwuBQhlPh9h2_4LkHlYe-5h-JTvgkI1vOl_hGkCYjPhuwkXHpaduM2IEDM7hz0jrO91slqgdSRe-cxH9vyo6MTOyv58aE1RbIksRM9y_cSw/s320/IMG_1133.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow, outside our window</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">NO, it is not going away.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fzSN9Js_jlfaPuHVtmapNWKE2vAsXpnOtPdcwlvuUYj26UFIMRgL0hoZjfCmx8AXXx5SLhzl0ChBx_8_OMPW9BMRLjyBUGeT0-iVXMCGd_UDaGHr0sTgW_H7xSEW85AO2wt-CzYuc6M/s1600/IMG_1134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fzSN9Js_jlfaPuHVtmapNWKE2vAsXpnOtPdcwlvuUYj26UFIMRgL0hoZjfCmx8AXXx5SLhzl0ChBx_8_OMPW9BMRLjyBUGeT0-iVXMCGd_UDaGHr0sTgW_H7xSEW85AO2wt-CzYuc6M/s320/IMG_1134.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High school, across the street</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We could have as much as 15 centimeters (6 inches) come down on us tonight and tomorrow.</span><br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrKon35fYFSn10bwKFATCXnGf98ZHmMx2OvoyIzfWPrfuxs9ATsvuVoaDXeUCqDYHb023VLayC7Cf-c7nB55RSFs1TBnWKJDrSk9K-vfFt0efwxbDVZqzPHIPaXCqmetvqnlDlNt8M1E/s1600/IMG_1136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrKon35fYFSn10bwKFATCXnGf98ZHmMx2OvoyIzfWPrfuxs9ATsvuVoaDXeUCqDYHb023VLayC7Cf-c7nB55RSFs1TBnWKJDrSk9K-vfFt0efwxbDVZqzPHIPaXCqmetvqnlDlNt8M1E/s320/IMG_1136.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow gathering on our balcony</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So, Merry Christmas, everyone!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Er, um, wait; it's October 22, not December 22. I haven't even started hibernation!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Silly old Bear. </span><br />
<br /></div>
Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-90844049084674489902012-10-18T23:00:00.000-06:002013-01-26T01:48:32.529-06:00THE DAY THEY TORE THE OLD BRIDGE DOWN<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The destruction of Saskatoon's historic Traffic Bridge hit full stride this morning. And though the bridge may be going, the politics about it continue. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The bridge, opened in 1907, was Saskatoon's first bridge for horses, wagons, pedestrians, and automobiles. It</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> was closed in 2010, after</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> suffering from neglect for decades. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The demolition began earlier this month, though preliminary work turned last week to stripping the wood and asphalt deck off the south end. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjeVzK6LUYtT_m0hy521nZ4d0vjBKdnQnadRflT3VlJIuF604NQWfoI-oYtrevvHZWqbse2Z6MEm8UiyoXF1Y6v0-33JNov5RUTMTUN80jo46j98yr8aLv4SQW-0raCy4ffqhMP7PQEg/s1600/IMG_0975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjeVzK6LUYtT_m0hy521nZ4d0vjBKdnQnadRflT3VlJIuF604NQWfoI-oYtrevvHZWqbse2Z6MEm8UiyoXF1Y6v0-33JNov5RUTMTUN80jo46j98yr8aLv4SQW-0raCy4ffqhMP7PQEg/s320/IMG_0975.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deck half cleared, exposing structural supports and trolly traces.<br />
Also visible are temporary supports placed below the main structure.</td></tr>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Once the deck had been completely removed, the temporary supports below the bridge were removed, and the foundation at the south end of the bridge was pulled out, allowing that end of the section to collapse.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDxXfQRXovO27NR7DSuZzeG0E5mxs2ULui0SPxoM2gdqY0QbVW_AEfOcocntOkOx2JlFe5zklj_BB6DkcHpGE7TiH53udPXZNQ-ANlbSw2bTAoG_4fadmgM6AgNEosVqcK-AAXkDRWz0/s1600/IMG_1000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDxXfQRXovO27NR7DSuZzeG0E5mxs2ULui0SPxoM2gdqY0QbVW_AEfOcocntOkOx2JlFe5zklj_BB6DkcHpGE7TiH53udPXZNQ-ANlbSw2bTAoG_4fadmgM6AgNEosVqcK-AAXkDRWz0/s320/IMG_1000.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going, going, . . .</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TwB8CIixDg_jsQTGGiEzYc9-Jr7P-l9VELSWXEWJPzKd_FIxjZ7vmoI5ahc6oaAnp6WtfsXotBwVt7WLg3P4laSSs5jxVaG09J_dDAjMXXJqFgtIeCMUDq4lCwXJ6DWz9vbA-8EJ6qU/s1600/IMG_1002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TwB8CIixDg_jsQTGGiEzYc9-Jr7P-l9VELSWXEWJPzKd_FIxjZ7vmoI5ahc6oaAnp6WtfsXotBwVt7WLg3P4laSSs5jxVaG09J_dDAjMXXJqFgtIeCMUDq4lCwXJ6DWz9vbA-8EJ6qU/s320/IMG_1002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gone!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">After that, an excavator's giant "lobster claw" chewed the heavy steel on the bridge apart, like it was cutting through tin. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrfsgh9EtTBhwwL9sDPhdLwIWzyOZSzyDrXu4Z_q0O9jX1xjH7kVlTFXk2dlvJSQPm_HT00CxK7I8tuo1-JWdANO_F7n3YP0fmQld57qdqNfNne5HcF9H3E2TQIyHgzT_wr7Ok470OkA/s1600/IMG_1028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrfsgh9EtTBhwwL9sDPhdLwIWzyOZSzyDrXu4Z_q0O9jX1xjH7kVlTFXk2dlvJSQPm_HT00CxK7I8tuo1-JWdANO_F7n3YP0fmQld57qdqNfNne5HcF9H3E2TQIyHgzT_wr7Ok470OkA/s320/IMG_1028.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdliyrUYUDDBwlhHhScLewc6MxDo70AHk4HKY4WBnNp66Cm2jCqbBD161riD4rDsR3EP1vhv01XbR3bzaKxTEzT1goUGo_GmKjnCMGSGHHHCXFyE16S_cHoWES6_L6Rdby2nmderjX08/s1600/IMG_1042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdliyrUYUDDBwlhHhScLewc6MxDo70AHk4HKY4WBnNp66Cm2jCqbBD161riD4rDsR3EP1vhv01XbR3bzaKxTEzT1goUGo_GmKjnCMGSGHHHCXFyE16S_cHoWES6_L6Rdby2nmderjX08/s320/IMG_1042.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">But this is neither the end of the bridge, nor the politics surrounding it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The Traffic Bridge was central to the formation of the City, uniting Nutana and Riversdale with Saskatoon. One of the conditions on which Nutana insisted was that a bridge be built connecting the two sides of the river. This would replace the unreliable ferry which was being used at the time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The portion of the bridge which is being demolished now is only one of five spans. The cost of demolishing this part is $500,000. But the other four spans are over water, meaning the challenge will be much greater. You cannot just let the steel fall into the river. Especially with all its lead-based paint.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And the kind of replacement may still be debatable. When City Council asked citizens for their input, the top priority was for a pedestrian and cycling link. Council, led by Mayor Don Atcheson, simply ignored that recommendation, and went on to other things. By a vote of 8 - 3, Council decided on a multi-use structure, including cars, bicycles, and pedestrians. Atcheson still thinks that was the right decision, even though Council has yet to find the $30 million required.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Mayoral challenger Tom Wolfe has other ideas. He says Council's action is a sign of its mistrust of public opinion. He says because Council ignored the outcome of the citizen consultation, he thinks the mater is open for review. After all, if Council didn't want a bycicle-pedestrian bridge, why did it not say so at the beginning of the consultation? Moreover, Wolfe says, when the new south bridge opens, likely this fall, that structure will relieve congestion on the existing bridges.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The demolition of the Traffic Bridge will continue, with no replacement in sight. And the nature of the replacement may get a lot more discussion. </span></div>
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Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-53487654034371882432012-10-06T19:54:00.001-06:002012-10-08T13:15:47.846-06:00FROSTY FRIDAY IN . . .<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">. . . River City, Canada.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The Temperature went down to - 5°C (or 23F) overnight. Yup; it's getting cool. And we are seeing more grey sky.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXIAB7ayCNP_GR1VmAW8_UbpAhkQwuFqenk_tEeZdfWgBWOz5VaErcpTLsGVV379CAXOUmFVbXGnTSG7DTm73cNRRITdpSgVsJPwS8hAK787oLruFlV4H-ccHBmdECdBx0VXEHqVKAgw/s1600/IMG_0748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXIAB7ayCNP_GR1VmAW8_UbpAhkQwuFqenk_tEeZdfWgBWOz5VaErcpTLsGVV379CAXOUmFVbXGnTSG7DTm73cNRRITdpSgVsJPwS8hAK787oLruFlV4H-ccHBmdECdBx0VXEHqVKAgw/s320/IMG_0748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The trees which had golden leaves are now sporting brown, and the few trees which still have green seem to be going to brown without hitting gold first. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LWLjJtHVyCVCXnUFnCnCGlPi8frZrCyXKGOi18tStbCSvoyl2PPrJ9_Rl4BKganGDoG2O_jgFjvEMejFQYvuVhvjz1n1wWVIDX6KE2K3yOMVUbBdhD5alekECo4Mo7A57BJKQSjIQws/s1600/IMG_0886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LWLjJtHVyCVCXnUFnCnCGlPi8frZrCyXKGOi18tStbCSvoyl2PPrJ9_Rl4BKganGDoG2O_jgFjvEMejFQYvuVhvjz1n1wWVIDX6KE2K3yOMVUbBdhD5alekECo4Mo7A57BJKQSjIQws/s320/IMG_0886.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>All the leaves are brown</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>and the sky is grey</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>[River City] dreaming</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>on such an [autumn] day.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">(With apologies to the Mommas and the Papas.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The sign of things to come. What a perfectly dismal time of year for an election. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Blessings and Bear hugs. </span>Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-72411464462078316042012-09-28T13:18:00.001-06:002012-10-04T03:11:28.585-06:00IT IS AUTUMN<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Nature sheds her garment in the breeze.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3ULZteLaFFgzEm7B7BWTrHj5hsyi6qazRWeiBQRyJHzya7jZi14Xjkbcm_pYrv57bwb3XQBGerNGgL61haSw1EzMLW4HnOIrwacFqUn0DWw23G0jdhsFC2oePzpMRERiKlDSWYMeFOE/s1600/IMG_0942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3ULZteLaFFgzEm7B7BWTrHj5hsyi6qazRWeiBQRyJHzya7jZi14Xjkbcm_pYrv57bwb3XQBGerNGgL61haSw1EzMLW4HnOIrwacFqUn0DWw23G0jdhsFC2oePzpMRERiKlDSWYMeFOE/s320/IMG_0942.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJwBU47os1o96Q64TNlaByZyOCRSFkv1ZcnuF9gp_qlGhcJSKP9stn5o5Q3LuWy-kqMV8XkqcWtfoDuKJZgbij3Qxuzg-FTI_UYECCYh3lIR6mEXc2Mbt8NfGmmONoJkSdOGoC49M9pY/s1600/IMG_0945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJwBU47os1o96Q64TNlaByZyOCRSFkv1ZcnuF9gp_qlGhcJSKP9stn5o5Q3LuWy-kqMV8XkqcWtfoDuKJZgbij3Qxuzg-FTI_UYECCYh3lIR6mEXc2Mbt8NfGmmONoJkSdOGoC49M9pY/s200/IMG_0945.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: center;"> Blessings and Bear hugs!</span></div>
Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-11030284162719430262012-09-15T23:42:00.000-06:002012-09-15T23:42:01.121-06:00IT'S ALL ROSARIA'S FAULT<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">That would be Rosaria at <i>sixtyfivewhatnow</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Before I go any further, I need to set this in a bit of context. </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">There is a magnet on our daughter's fridge door, which says:</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>I didn't say it was your fault,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>I said I was going to blame you.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So, keep in mind that I'm imitating today's politicians, by not taking responsibility for my own behaviour. Hence, blame Rosaria. (Why politicians cannot take responsibility for their actions is totally beyond it. If they weren't proud of what they were doing, why did they do it?)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Anyhow, Rosaria recently raised an interesting issue. Is blogging a real "<a href="http://sixtyfivewhatnow.blogspot.ca/2012/09/is-blogging-true-regimen.html">regimen</a>." (Regimen being defined as a "way of life," among other things.) Do we live to blog, or blog to live, or a bit of both. To what extent are our lives directed by our blogging? Interesting questions, those. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The final of five questions was the most interesting. What would I be doing if I were not blogging? The only thing I could think of was writing, somewhere or other. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Having written to earn my living for a lot of years (30+), writing is natural for this Bear. That doesn't mean I'm a particularly good writer; it just means I do a lot of it. And I did, indeed, get paid for it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Which is why I'm involved in tying to start an independent news co-operative here in River City. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Do you notice that television networks pretty much have the same news? That you get the about same stories on CBS, ABC, and CBS? That the same stories appear on local radio or television stations? Well, it happens. I know, because I was in that game for years. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">What would happen if you had an outlet which carried very different news, or news from a very different perspective? What if it reported on stories with which the "big stations" would not bother? You're starting to get the idea.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.mediacoop.ca/">The Media Co-op</a> is a national news cooperative in Canada, which publishes different kinds of stories all the time. There are active locals in four Canadian cities, and "Working Groups" that are trying to establish locals in a number of other places. All in an effort to give people news they would not get otherwise. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This is another project to keep Bear from being bored. A bored Bear in an unhappy Bear. An unhappy Bear is a dangerous Bear. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">But it is more than that. It is an attempt to see if we can sustain a solid, independent news outlet in River City (and thereabouts). It's a plan to see if "alternate" news is what people want.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Blessings and Bear hugs. </span><br />
<br />Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-7188246016779101572012-09-05T10:15:00.000-06:002012-09-05T23:01:23.257-06:00THIS IS THE SUMMER THAT WAS, 2012 VERSION<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Summer, in this case, was July and August. Not the total of summer, but close enough, at least the way most Humans figure it. Now it is September. High temperatures are around 15°C (59F); lows around 5C (41F). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So, what happened this summer?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Actually, a fair number of things.<br />• helped to host half a dozen (or more) sleepovers for our grandchildren at our place<br />
• read lots to the grandchildren when they came, and when we went to their place<br />
• visited my local library numerous times<br />
• read quite a bit<br />
• ate a lot<br />
• took lots of pictures (you've seen the best)<br />
• drank coffee semi-regularly for a while (though I cannot say I really enjoy it — so I went back to drinking tea)<br />
• drove out to the country three times<br />
• watched birds come and go<br />
• celebrated J's birthday<br />
• celebrated our 43 wedding anniversary<br />
• spent time with good friends, but not often enough<br />
• swam in our apartment's swimming pool a couple of times<br />
• started walking daily (about a kilometre, sometimes more), most days<br />
• worked on creating an independent news co-operative<br />
• helped to get Occupy Saskatoon going again<br />
• worked on research ethics approvals</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">• drank no wine or spirits, but tea (and coffee, as mentioned above)<br /><br />
I'm sure I've forgotten some events/activities, but that's what I can remember, for now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Yeah, no major shortage of things to do. But still prone to depression. Building up a schedule of activities for the fall. Yes, you will hear about them. Of course. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Blessings and Bear hugs!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-68625142331889113082012-08-31T00:50:00.000-06:002012-09-01T00:58:31.764-06:00THE STRUGGLES TO STAY HEALTHY (update)<h2>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Number One Son</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">We got a call at 2:00 this morning. Not the usual time for phone calls. (OK, make that yesterday morning — I see it's already Saturday.) </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Normally, I am not awake at that time of the morning; it was a "lucky call," insofar as I was awake.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Our daughter-in-law phoned saying T was sick and needed to go to hospital. So I pulled on some clothes and headed over. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">When I got there, the ambulance and fire engine had already arrived. (Standard plan is to send a fire crew to a health-related call, as support for the ambulance team.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So, it was off to local hospital for T and A (our dil). She took my car; they don't have one. I stayed with the grandkids, who slept through the whole mis-adventure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Three hours later, they were back. T had been checked out, and nothing particularly wrong. Most likely problem was a reaction to some medication he had taken. (Whole family there has been fighting off cold-like symptoms for since mid-July.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So, it was fortunate that there was no serious problem. Grandkids spent the day at our place. They are sleeping here tonight, too. All the adults are tired.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bear's Medical Challenges</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Thursday, Bear saw his doctor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">We had a "productive" chat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Bear will be taking more medication. More anti-depressive medication. (That's a depressing thought in itself.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Bear will also be trying to find more creative things to do with life in retirement. As in, the creative things Bear is doing are good, just that he needs to be doing more of them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Bear supposes this means becoming more creative and intentional about blogging. And poetry writing (on Bear's other blog). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">We will find out soon enough.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">~ ~ ~</span></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Thank you for Bearing with me while "indisposed." Bear's disposition will improve in due course. Hopefully, at least. Lest he be disposed of. (Particularly for ending that last sentence with a preposition.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Blessings and Bear hugs! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-17342658830865317372012-08-23T14:07:00.000-06:002012-08-23T14:07:30.545-06:00IN WHICH BEAR EXPLAINS (APOLOGIZES)<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Bear had hoped by now to have published three items on which he has been working.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">However, Bear finds depression and creative writing do not go hand in hand. (It has been an "interesting" summer in that regard.) So the posts will be delayed. Next week, perhaps.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">:((</span><br />
<br />Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-41285900122405421262012-08-16T15:25:00.000-06:002012-08-16T15:27:07.564-06:00IN WHICH BEAR OBSERVES AN ALTERATION<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">One day the high temperature is 25°C (or 77F). The next day, the high is 17°C (63F).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Good grief, Charlie Brown. Is the ghost of Allen Funt back to haunt us?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">A careful look at the trees shows another tell-tale sign. There is just the slightest tinge of yellow showing up in a few places, amongst the green leaves of the trees.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And the wind is blowing everything all over the place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Say it isn't so, Irving Berlin!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">But the truth is there for everyone to see. So I got out my trusty candid camera. Behold.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nBmRabA-2mK9ob4hC2wHnn_RuqXXOebqWWDSnlhAZMkcFwT1kkAHrhrLe23CSdMcDGTZPTWqz0OyxAjcPweyKZvRyfFjbbmuVekjNwJoSLtpk2mQrBTwbV2Nocjkk4EYXhwPFvUYtw0/s1600/IMG_0736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nBmRabA-2mK9ob4hC2wHnn_RuqXXOebqWWDSnlhAZMkcFwT1kkAHrhrLe23CSdMcDGTZPTWqz0OyxAjcPweyKZvRyfFjbbmuVekjNwJoSLtpk2mQrBTwbV2Nocjkk4EYXhwPFvUYtw0/s320/IMG_0736.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdLKcIX7jluqHAn_dzhV28dXJ3nc_COe7KMp_9ipx1yQSmUQSOcQU8bfcEpFvKXZloeE5dK00s2jmp-QCYjW09XvR_13LyRXGHgHJKL9SXVujps-Zv5cyoJHvf5IawOQ0rUqAHLOiFFA/s1600/IMG_0743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdLKcIX7jluqHAn_dzhV28dXJ3nc_COe7KMp_9ipx1yQSmUQSOcQU8bfcEpFvKXZloeE5dK00s2jmp-QCYjW09XvR_13LyRXGHgHJKL9SXVujps-Zv5cyoJHvf5IawOQ0rUqAHLOiFFA/s320/IMG_0743.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiuAOGZx9VPL469n6zQULod-u0yi6G9M3GyZkK7b0pZ-YO47Lm2PEvTxtWtms7T4q-0f8Wdk5kCxlMdMA4xA2cPKwTBJWU8P2tV2QV0dvcUeE_dNxH4dIZXBDwBTnJjlZcXlZ6xtnu2k/s1600/IMG_0744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiuAOGZx9VPL469n6zQULod-u0yi6G9M3GyZkK7b0pZ-YO47Lm2PEvTxtWtms7T4q-0f8Wdk5kCxlMdMA4xA2cPKwTBJWU8P2tV2QV0dvcUeE_dNxH4dIZXBDwBTnJjlZcXlZ6xtnu2k/s320/IMG_0744.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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(Sorry that the trees are a bit blurred; I did say the wind is blowing. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Currently 24 k/h, meaning 15 m/h.)</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As well, the clouds are hanging low over River City.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FF0zn8Q0cFFBkKDADdi_pxQxqDJiwlHn2JWbRRx8S44B9qjQcENWOP0dCk-u12ScAcyKpk_U2BPPIqnlylOwNfnvGy2oM20iVqeGfgwDqL2IAt0j4137UGPekypB_4K1EKF2l1SDwBI/s1600/IMG_0746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FF0zn8Q0cFFBkKDADdi_pxQxqDJiwlHn2JWbRRx8S44B9qjQcENWOP0dCk-u12ScAcyKpk_U2BPPIqnlylOwNfnvGy2oM20iVqeGfgwDqL2IAt0j4137UGPekypB_4K1EKF2l1SDwBI/s320/IMG_0746.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjim1_CBfTjVxSv94PF2XUGmlXFvgKD59By3kZD6eZCNhOjZGCyz0h0Nwdrw0J2_RaC_SIeVIZbLRhSYVhyphenhyphen4UaUJmj-oeiZZkB_4WBQvKXDf5u61qHdqok7RxDb6UZOvzxdXhBm3Dma0ZI/s1600/IMG_0748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjim1_CBfTjVxSv94PF2XUGmlXFvgKD59By3kZD6eZCNhOjZGCyz0h0Nwdrw0J2_RaC_SIeVIZbLRhSYVhyphenhyphen4UaUJmj-oeiZZkB_4WBQvKXDf5u61qHdqok7RxDb6UZOvzxdXhBm3Dma0ZI/s320/IMG_0748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">There is still a bit of blue sky behind the clouds, so things aren't all that bad. But we're starting the change of seasons. Time to get out the snow shovel.</span><br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Livestock Report</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">When I was out for my daily walk, I heard a Red-breasted Nuthatch. I haven't seen one of those for a while. I usually think of them as being winter birds, and they are. Although some made a nest in our apple tree a couple of years before we sold our house. Watching that process was fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span>
</span>
<h2>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bear's Wit and Wisdom</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333233; font-family: Georgia; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>If you think about the world, life becomes very depressing.</i></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<i style="color: #333233; font-family: Georgia; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you don't think about the world, nothing gets better. ~ Bear</span></i></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #333233;">
<span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">To which my sagacious and loquacious friend, Da Blog Fodder, replied: "</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Yup! The Catch 22 of living with your brain turned on instead of off</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">."</span></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #333233; font-family: Georgia;">
<span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Everybody should have a friend like Da Blog Fodder.</span></div>
<br />Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-56481154270202577052012-08-14T16:07:00.000-06:002012-08-16T15:24:27.827-06:00IN WHICH BEAR TRIES TO SOLVE A PROBLEM . . .<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>and gets nowhere in the process.</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<h2>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Picture This</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Yup. It was one of "those days." You know, don't you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">To review. Bear could not get good pictures of the parade while standing the "Corporate Box." (There were pictures, but not good ones.) Bear was embarrassed to show them to friends (showed only two, so friends would understand the specifics of the difficulty). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The solution, of course, is not to buy a new camera, but to <i>get a new lens for the camera</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Easier said than done.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Bear went to local camera store. Found the lens he wanted. A mere $1,500.00 (give or take a bit).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Which is about Bear's total "discretionary spending" for a year. Or two.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Very depressing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Decision time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Defer decision-making; Bear is depressed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Ask for help. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The question is:" <b>Should Bear get a new lens for his camera</b>?"</span><br />
<br />
<script charset="utf-8" src="http://static.polldaddy.com/p/6447623.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
<noscript>&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/6447623/"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Should Bear get a new lens for his camera?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</noscript><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">OK, folks. Have at it. Please let the Bear know what you think. Thank you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Elsewhere in Bear's World</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I know that some of you go through times when Life gets in the way of Blogging. That often happens during the summer. When folks go on holidays. Or at other holiday times. Or family emergencies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In Bear's case, that happens when life gets busy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">September 17, 2012 marks the first anniversary of Occupy Wall Street (and the similar occupations in over a thousand cities and towns around the globe). That was an event which changed some of the public dialogue in the world. The 99%, you say? Indeed. Etc. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Well, that was too good an event to forget. So this year. . . .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">More on that, another time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And while I'm not planning on leading our congregation again, any time soon, I have been asked to take on responsibility in a couple of ministry projects with the congregation. (Am I too easy, or what?)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So, <i>if</i> my presence seems a bit limited, I haven't gone away mad, or anything like that. I'm just "otherwise occupied." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Blessings and Bear hugs, friends.</span><br /><br>
Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-84055508579498645282012-08-11T22:10:00.001-06:002012-08-11T22:32:43.030-06:00SATURDAY BITS AND PIECES (2)<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Good afternoon </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">(morning, evening; whenever you read this).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red;">◊</span></b> One of my favorite bloggers is packing it in, at least for the time being. That would be The Blog Fodder, himself, of <a href="http://dablogfodder.blogspot.com/">The Blog Fodder</a>. This, after 1129 posts (his count).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">He's apparently changing some medication, and life is getting a bit challenging. Tiresome, perhaps. It's the medication that he claims keeps us from being crazy. As he explains:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I find when I take [my medications] that other people don't act like complete flaming assholes all the time just to piss me off. If THEY would take Prozac, I wouldn't have to.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Well, um, yes. Best wishes in getting through whatever, Blog Fodder.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><b>◊</b></span>Bear and J were out of town in the afternoon. Back to our prior home, about half hour's drive south of River City. Friends of ours for the last 30 year, R and N, were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Well done, friends. Congratulations!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">On our way to the party we stopped to check on which Birds were around:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Crow, Magpie, Coot, Black Duck, Mallard, Blue-Winged Teal, Canada Goose, Yellowlegs, Black Tern, Western Phalerope, Mew Gull, Avocet, Cedar Waxwing, and Harrier (as in Marsh Hawk, not as in British fighter jet). I also saw what might have been a Shrike, but I couldn't be absolutely sure.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7evvSfxVmhcxBleFpBDzieT_Wr0NIyIyLsyKRzYtwJ8lTOn5g7vsEMqJF1NYML9wtQomG_fveG1wkKTGWPhQusSwZa87rXZAbizf-SQcJAMouVbEU120qCY94BSor1s1Vzn5syDsrtnw/s1600/220px-Lanius_ludovicianus_-Texas_-USA-8-4c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7evvSfxVmhcxBleFpBDzieT_Wr0NIyIyLsyKRzYtwJ8lTOn5g7vsEMqJF1NYML9wtQomG_fveG1wkKTGWPhQusSwZa87rXZAbizf-SQcJAMouVbEU120qCY94BSor1s1Vzn5syDsrtnw/s200/220px-Lanius_ludovicianus_-Texas_-USA-8-4c.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loggerhead_Shrike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Wonderful field trip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red;">◊</span></b> The cubs (i.e., grandchildren) are with us on a sleepover, while their parents celebrate their own anniversary. Hard to believe 17 years. But when son and dil are 40, that can be expected. (If you think turning 40 is "interesting," wait until your children turn 40.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">We're going to watch a movie, about Hairy Potter, the Bear who worked in the greenhouse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">What's that?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Oh. Excuse me. It's about Harry Potter, the child wizard at Hogwart's School. Something about a firey goblet. </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Bears of a certain age need to be continually updated on modern literature and all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: red;">◊</span></b> <span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm making a small change to my blog. NO; I'm installing word verification. (It is getting more readable, but No; I'm not doing that.)</span></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">But I have decided to live dangerously. I'm giving up comment moderation (at least in part), and will see what happens. That change will let you see that your comments have been posted right after you click "send."</span></span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I don't have any people with Open ID, so that will be fine. But I won't be allowing Anonymous bloggers to leave commercial comments (or non-meat spam). I actually met a nony Moose a few years ago; boy, was he surly, eh. So he does't get to make comments. I know him and his kind. Not here, thanks.</span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I have no idea of how this will work; if Bear starts to have problems with pesky blogger, I already have a fall-back position.</span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red;">◊</span></b> Turning to the weather, sunny with a high of 23°C in the afternoon. In the evening, clear with a low of 7°C. Tomorrow, 23 and sunny.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And that's the news; I'm Rob-bear.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /><i><span style="color: #783f04;">Blessings and Bear hugs. Eh?</span></i></span></span>Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-8275488964703204052012-08-07T13:01:00.000-06:002012-08-09T22:26:55.090-06:00I LOVE A PARADE . . .<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">but only when I can see it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Sadly, neither Bear not Bear's camera got a very good view.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKMaEuy-E01eeNi0Q9cU2W2Bqf0iEht2gvPCiIP5hcjgmE0jMAtruToro4ny9x58ar5BsUX355UqhKFrw0_6qU9Ep14UBZBCEsHDSTCwa76x5ur1mQSA-yFor1khz5_p3ZfH5Q_ahXf0/s1600/IMG_0707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKMaEuy-E01eeNi0Q9cU2W2Bqf0iEht2gvPCiIP5hcjgmE0jMAtruToro4ny9x58ar5BsUX355UqhKFrw0_6qU9Ep14UBZBCEsHDSTCwa76x5ur1mQSA-yFor1khz5_p3ZfH5Q_ahXf0/s320/IMG_0707.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It's the beginning of our Exhibition week (OK, most of a week). How can you begin an annual Exhibition without a parade?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Precisely!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">But, from our "Corporate Box" (attached to our apartment), the view wasn't so great.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">What to do? What to do? Think; think; think.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Hmmmm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Maybe if I play with the photo a bit.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWL4N5W9HF3PlYrRkpzyOmGMJ1PwUtgJUiqXnglRxDasjbmxPoBMhQSj-7xRL3sWqgoGXVAtplOhnp7cOdxqt6-VDqU28buqRptYk0p6Ulz1py9JONJxXOjeFvfcW5QS7PATdb0FCq-BM/s1600/IMG_0707a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWL4N5W9HF3PlYrRkpzyOmGMJ1PwUtgJUiqXnglRxDasjbmxPoBMhQSj-7xRL3sWqgoGXVAtplOhnp7cOdxqt6-VDqU28buqRptYk0p6Ulz1py9JONJxXOjeFvfcW5QS7PATdb0FCq-BM/s320/IMG_0707a.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A real steam-driven Calliope</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Not so good. Very fuzzy. Very out of focus. Not acceptable! (Sorry about that.) </span></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">You know, of course, what this means, don't you?</span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">(If you don't, then stick around for a few days.)</span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-61402443234512448002012-07-30T21:57:00.000-06:002012-08-02T07:35:58.676-06:00IN WHICH BEAR RECEIVES A GIFT . . .<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">and tries to figure out what to do with it. (This happened back in March; I've finally figured out what to do with it.)<br />
<br />
In this case, this is the <b>Versatile Blogger Award</b> which comes to Bear from <a href="http://blueskiessunnydays.blogspot.com/">Rubye Jack</a>. She is a fascinating individual living in "Indian Territory," USA. (For those not familiar with the designation, the state is now called Oklahoma.) Please drop by and check her out. She has quite a story to tell. Right now, she's using a community computer. That may change.<br />
<br />
Next step. Name 15 other bloggers who deserve the <b>Versatile Blogger Award</b>. Not so easy. There are so many good blogs out there. Bear will have to think about that. <br />
<br />
So far, 3 of the key tasks accomplished.<br />
1. I've named the award.<br />
2. I've told you who gave it to me.<br />
3. I've told you that I have to pass this on to 15 folks, naming them, and letting them know they have been thus awarded. <br />
<br />
Now, the hard part. The 15 blogs.<br />
<br />
1. The big guy himself, <a href="http://dablogfodder.blogspot.com/">The Blog Fodder</a><br />
2. The half Welsh woman, <a href="http://tattieweasle.blogspot.com/">Tattie Weasle</a><br />
3. Maggie, <a href="http://preselimags.blogspot.com/">Life in the Preseli Hills</a><br />
4. M Lydia M, <a href="http://writerquake.blogspot.com/">Writerquake</a><br />
5. Domestic Laura, <a href="http://cleaninghouseandbakingcakes.blogspot.com/">Cleaning House and Baking Cookies</a><br />
6. Shannon's <a href="http://shananagins2468.blogspot.com/">Faith~Hope~&~Love</a><br />
7. West-coast Carol, <a href="http://clpcs-betterispossible.blogspot.com/">Better Is Possible</a><br />
8. Shauna, <a href="http://lesbianhousewifechronicles.blogspot.com/">Two Chicks and Their Peeps</a><br />
9. Long-suffering Dana, <a href="http://startingoverwithdetermination.blogspot.com/">Life Is Good (aka Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down)</a><br />
10. Rachel, the poet, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/thewaxingmoom.blogspot.com">The Waxing Moon</a><br />
11. A chemist turned writer, <a href="http://cheshire-wife.blogspot.com/">Cheshire Wife</a><br />
12. The Gentleman's Lady, <a href="http://afunnyoldlifeaintit.blogspot.com/">A Funny Old Life</a><br />
13. Amanda, the Archiologist, <a href="http://travelswithpersephone.blogspot.com/">Travels with Persephone</a><br />
14. Paul, <a href="http://potsoc.blogspot.com/">Costo</a><br />
15. The Crow, <a href="http://phantsythat.blogspot.com/">phantsy that</a><br />
<br />
Peace and joy, friends.<br />
<br />
<br />
</span>Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-22782105496183835912012-07-25T15:49:00.000-06:002012-07-25T15:49:14.904-06:00ANOTHER AWARD! (ARE WE ON A ROLL HERE?)<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">There are times in Bear's life when things get downright peculiar. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">There was a comment on my <a href="http://chrome-on-the-range.blogspot.ca/2012/06/y-as-in-yippie-bear-gets-excited-about.html">last post</a> <u>before</u> the tornado nonsense in mid-June. My blog had been nominated for the "Inspiring Blog Award." This, from a total stranger.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So I did what I usually do. My "nose for news" got going, and moseyed on over to check out the <a href="http://jemimapett.wordpress.com/2012/06/14/the-inspiring-blog-award/">details</a>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Jemima Pett works with animals. Guinea Pigs, in fact. (I want you to know that I behaved myself; I didn't eat either of them for a snack.) She turns them into the Princelings of the East in her fiction books. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">But really, anyone who works with animals like that has got to be a good person! (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">You go check her <a href="http://jemimapett.wordpress.com/2012/06/14/the-inspiring-blog-award/">blog</a>.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As a recipient of this award, I am required to <s>bore you with</s> tell you seven <s>exciting</s> unique things about the Bear. The problem is, you already know so much about me (way too much, in fact) that it will be hard to say anything new. (Though, to catch a unique Bear, you neek up on him, very quietly.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Anyhow.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">1. I lived on Melrose Avenue in North York (right beside the City of Toronto) when I was growing up.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The original Melrose was in the Scottish border area, and had a wonderful abbey, which (I suspect) was demolished during the Suppression or Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII of England. The religious communities were basically sacked by Henry's troops between 1</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">536 and 1541, and their money added to the Royal Treasury. I think he was worried about them being hotbeds of Roman Catholicism, ready to dispute his plans to try Britain's congregations in the Anglican Church.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">2. My second favourite colour is green. And the older I get, the more I like green. Green as in trees, and grass, and plants. Particularly Hunter Green for painting.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">3. I have a huge amount of trouble keeping my study clean and tidy. There is so much that I am doing that paper and books seems to accumulate here, there, and everywhere. But usually, I know where things are if I want them. Usually. (OK, sometimes.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">4. I have a mixed relationship with baking. I like making scones. But if I make them I'll want to eat them. Never tried donuts. Not much at cakes. Or cookies.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Maybe I just need more practice. Which would mean people to whom I can send my "treats." I wouldn't want to waste good food. Though some may go to waist.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">5. I would love to have a motorcycle.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It's a death wish, I think.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Can you imagine a Bear on a motorcycle, outside a circus?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">My point exactly. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Sigh!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">6. I used to be a day person. Now, I've become a night person. I'm not sure how this transition happened. I think it had to do with the amount of pain I have experienced, which sometimes (or more often) keeps me awake at night. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">How many of you are day people? How many night people?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">7. I enjoy doing Tai Chi. I understand there are several groups going that in our city. I've tried contacting them, with no response. Have you ever tried that?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Last task. I need to nominate 15 people/blogs for the "Inspiring Blog Award." Herein lies the problem. I don't follow blogs which are un-inspiring. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So Bear will be creative. And ask you inspiring readers for help with this. You tell me; which blogs do you consider inspiring, and worthy of this aware? Maybe one that I follow already; maybe something I have not seen before. Please let me know.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Blessings and Bear hugs to all.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780769436411348454.post-63893821919579516842012-07-21T09:23:00.001-06:002012-07-21T09:23:54.534-06:00A CLOUDY DAY<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Consider Joni Mitchell's take on things.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>Bows and flows of angel hair<br />
And ice cream castles in the air<br />
And feathered canyons everywhere<br />
I've looked at clouds that way.</i></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhob1pmch9hlShNtUj1FA80JKS-QHYYnSwiKwnb9mMqvXgwCzOSf5IstmS_g8uqX3Kb7vGh2XrP7U9csaFnY4tjBdp7jF1X6MycgRZ_qSpVz5RtMGqBMk6FQqFAA_rZPrIZf2HSrg_yHF4/s1600/IMG_0650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhob1pmch9hlShNtUj1FA80JKS-QHYYnSwiKwnb9mMqvXgwCzOSf5IstmS_g8uqX3Kb7vGh2XrP7U9csaFnY4tjBdp7jF1X6MycgRZ_qSpVz5RtMGqBMk6FQqFAA_rZPrIZf2HSrg_yHF4/s320/IMG_0650.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>But now they only block the sun<br />
They rain and snow on everyone<br />
So many things I would have done<br />
But clouds got in my way.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGFqgfuTAjFZSOHmVDu5HjO3n7ZXHq4WR55my-YNL7hLp2YIYmFIuPOBOabviDlcm8S7LGKnkh9WYxHxlM1KK8SMrJtyrQGEWiZoU6XSiVVL4_qqR1gBrfULOCDdXK4jr2eCwcIqD_TI/s1600/IMG_0399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGFqgfuTAjFZSOHmVDu5HjO3n7ZXHq4WR55my-YNL7hLp2YIYmFIuPOBOabviDlcm8S7LGKnkh9WYxHxlM1KK8SMrJtyrQGEWiZoU6XSiVVL4_qqR1gBrfULOCDdXK4jr2eCwcIqD_TI/s320/IMG_0399.JPG" width="320" /></a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>I've looked at clouds from both sides now</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>From up and down, and still somehow</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>It's cloud illusions I recall</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>I really don't know clouds at all.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIND5qnvk0WBF__sTyvSGV8PuOutZlUVJFNvvPu2hyTcLzBgxsKyDEzl_6JRY3DtSaVH8XOc1S87QU5pAmMmvP-NXyTmxzorNyP4g2SMeL0lRUqFZ4cx_m1pHPphfHCqUY9aeriOY2MBY/s1600/IMG_0619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIND5qnvk0WBF__sTyvSGV8PuOutZlUVJFNvvPu2hyTcLzBgxsKyDEzl_6JRY3DtSaVH8XOc1S87QU5pAmMmvP-NXyTmxzorNyP4g2SMeL0lRUqFZ4cx_m1pHPphfHCqUY9aeriOY2MBY/s320/IMG_0619.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I will be back!<br />
I'm not sure when.<br />
Promise?<br />
Threat?<br />
Take you pick.<br />
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</span></div>Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com31