August 21 to 27, 2011

Monday ; I am stunned at the suddenness of Jack Layton's death from cancer. It was only a month or so ago that he was on TV announcing his temporary leave of absence from leading the NDP party in order to fight cancer. My mother-in-law and my father-in-law both succumbed as quickly to the evil of cancer. Both of them at a relatively young age, like Jack Layton. It's no wonder that Joanne was unable to believe that she could survive when she was diagnosed with cancer ... the first time. She was able to be more optimistic the second time.

It's difficult for me to express how grateful I am that she has survived. Cancer scares the hell out of me ! ! !

Rest in peace, Mr. Layton.

Friday ; Today was hot, temperature in the mid-90's. This morning we headed to Penticton to run errands. First in Penticton, then Okanagan Falls, and finally, Oliver. We wanted to end up in Oliver around lunch time. We had a picnic lunch in Oliver Community Park, then attended Bark In The Park, a BC SPCA fund raiser event in that same municipal park. There were a variety of booths operated by pet supply vendors and pet related organizations. Which was a tad boring, from a dog’s perspective. There was a demonstration of dog agility by an Osoyoos based agility club. I was interested in getting more information on that organization, with a view to perhaps joining the club. BUT ... it only took me a few moments with the club's people to realize that me and Bo, and that club, are incompatible ! Geeez, some "dog people" take themselves WAY too seriously ! It's dog agility, people ! They're dogs ! They just want to have some fun !

After Bark In The Park was the big special treat of the day ! From 4 PM to 5 PM, the final hour of the Oliver Community Pool's summer season, the pool was open to ... DOGS ! What a lot of fun we had ! Bo and I, and many other dogs and their owners romped for an hour in the large community swimming pool. Bo and I played with his special "beach doughnut", a styrofoam fishing net float he found on the beach in Teacapán, Mexico a few years ago. Bo loooooves playing "fetch" in the water with his beach doughnut. HA HA HA ... good dog, Bo, well done ! AND ... < snicker > ... we could entice Bo to slide down the kiddies’ slide into the pool by placing his beach doughnut on the bottom edge of the slide. HA HA HA ! What a silly little dog !

DSK

August 14 to 20, 2011

Friday ; Spent the afternoon and evening in Penticton. Ran errands all afternoon, had supper at a new Chinese buffet restaurant, then went to a free concert in Gyro Park. Part of the Sunshine Cabaret series of Friday evening and Saturday evening free concerts in the bandshell in Penticton's Gyro Park. Tonight's band was Fluxx, a local classic rock band fronted by a music teacher from one of the local high schools. As we were leaving Gyro Park we bumped into Mitch and Diane, friends and former neighbours of ours.

Saturday ; Very hot today, temperature approaching 100 degrees. Whew ... almost as hot as Yuma on April 1. HA HA HA ! Since we didn't have any trailer delivery work today ( ! ! ! ! ! ) we were able to attend a potluck dinner at Riverside RV Park Resort. I don't know why we bothered. The most gorgeous early evening weather imaginable, and everybody just "ate and ran". I don't understand the point of going to a communal dinner to just scarf down food then head home !

DSK

August 7 to 13, 2011

Sunday ; Another hot, long, hard, lucrative day of delivering trailers. Temperature in the 90's. Drove over 350 km. / 220 miles. Keremeos to Osoyoos to Penticton to Summerland to Penticton to Summerland to Osoyoos to Keremeos.

We have a "Bo-gility" course built in our yard. One of the components, at this time of the year, is a little kiddy's pool. Today when we got home from work, there was ... a dead mouse floating in Bo's pool. YUCK ! Guess the poor little bugger was thirsty.

Tuesday ; Went to pick wild apricots today. WOW ... peak of the season ! I'm looking forward to having frozen apricots to mix into yogurt next winter in Yuma.

Saturday ; Today was a very hot day, temperature well into the 90's. Our trailer delivery assignments today were a little less demanding than in previous weeks, and our mileage travelled was a lot less. We had a very upsetting confrontation with a campground owner, leading to a confrontation with our "boss". Late in the evening I'm still simmering !

DSK

July 31 to August 6, 2011

Sunday ; Happy 50th Birthday to my brother Russell

This morning we went into town to see Kars Under The "K", the annual classic and antique car show in Memorial Park in Keremeos. "Under The K" refers to "K" Mountain, behind the town, and overlooking Memorial Park.  The photo below is of a 1926 Ford Model T fruit truck.  Very appropriate for Keremeos, "The Fruit Stand Capital Of Canada".

After lunch we mounted a large concrete bird bath on the stump of the dead Douglas Fir tree we had removed last week. It's okay ... but small consolation for losing the tree. Using a pick axe we dug two holes in our lot where we want to plant another tree and a Saskatoon bush. Digging holes in our lot is almost impossible since it's scree / talus / rock slide shale that's been compacted by a huge compactor piece of equipment.

Monday ; Hot today ! Went into the nearby Crown Land forest and dug out two small Douglas Fir seedlings, then dug out another small Saskatoon bush from the forest around our RV park's "burn pile" area. Transplanted the two small Douglas Fir seedlings and the Saskatoon bush onto our lot. Let's hope for the best ! Late this afternoon we washed the truck. WHEW !

Went for a walk alongside the river. Bo had a dip in the Similkameen. Read and napped with Sully in the gazebo.

Thursday ; Today marks two years since Teddy's death.

Saturday ; A hot, long, hard, lucrative day of delivering trailers. One in Penticton, three in Osoyoos, and one in Summerland.

DSK