FOCUS ON NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT

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.

~ Bear

IN WHICH BEAR GETS "BOUNCED," AND SUFFERS ONGOING PROBLEMS

To Begin at the Beginning

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. 

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.)

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. 

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). 

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. 

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. 

Meanwhile, . . .

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.

All quite nice, actually. 

Then yesterday, and overnight, it snowed. And snowed. And snowed. And the river, already full of ice, almost froze over. 

Yes, the scenery is delightfully wintry. 

But I'm stil not back to Hibernating!

Sigh!

Blessings and Bear Hugs, friends. 

HIBERNATION TIME

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.)

Even the weather seems hibernation-style.

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).

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. 

For those not familiar with Offa's Dyke, also called Clawdd Offa, 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.

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.)

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).

As always, blessings and Bear hugs.

SNOW JOB! (with morning update)

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.

We had been warned, however, so J and I wrapped up our afternoon shopping trip about 10  minutes before things started getting really bad.  

UPDATE:   With the morning sun, we can see some of the new beauty, particular the ice pans forming on the river.

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).

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.

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. 

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:
• blankets
• sweaters
• parkas
• food
• candles and flashlights
• battery powered radio
• cell phone and land line

The people in Colorado, Minnesota, and Montana will understand this very clearly. Others, perhaps, not so much.

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, it's all part of the "be cool but stay warm" philosophy, which works so well up here. 

So, we'll just relax, and we'll be fine. 

ON ANOTHER NOTE, 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 Pittance of Time," by Terry Kelly, a Canadian. Have a listen!

ALSO, I've been working on something for my Bears Noting (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. 

Blessings and Bear hugs!

IT'S CALLED WINTER.

It happens about this time every year. (Around All Saints' Day.)

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).

The process left the city with a nice blanket of white. Treacherous, but cute. 

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?

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 poetry blog.)

It is not a great day for walking or driving a car. Unless, of course, you want to invite some sort of misadventure. 

Blessings and Bear hugs.

YES, THAT'S SNOW

Snow, outside our window

NO, it is not going away.

High school, across the street

We could have as much as 15 centimeters (6 inches) come down on us tonight and tomorrow.

Snow gathering on our balcony

So, Merry Christmas, everyone!

Er, um, wait; it's October 22, not December 22. I haven't even started hibernation!

Silly old Bear. 

THE DAY THEY TORE THE OLD BRIDGE DOWN

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. 

The bridge, opened in 1907, was Saskatoon's first bridge for horses, wagons, pedestrians, and automobiles. It was closed in 2010, after suffering from neglect for decades. 

The demolition began earlier this month, though preliminary work turned last week to stripping the wood and asphalt deck off the south end. 

Deck half cleared, exposing structural supports and trolly traces.
Also visible are temporary supports placed below the main structure.

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.

Going, going, . . .

Gone!

After that, an excavator's giant "lobster claw" chewed the heavy steel on the bridge apart, like it was cutting through tin. 

But this is neither the end of the bridge, nor the politics surrounding it. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.