Dave Squatch Ward: Who's a Fat Bastard - Fancy organic chicken sausage

November 15, 2014

Bob Newhart starting a new family, at the age of 85?

I got out of bed this morning about 8:30 with a half written blog sitting on my computer waiting for me to finish it. Taking care of my morning absolution's and pouring myself a cup of Joe, I made my way to my office. I've been using a speech to text translator on my tablet and then transferring it to the blog. Not today. Today I was typing it old school two fingers at a time. That's why it took so damn long!

After I posted yesterday's blog, I made breakfast for the lovely Lisa and I. Some fancy organic chicken sausage our friend Jody on the island gave us. I made the lovely Lisa a breakfast sandwich with cheese, egg, chicken sausage, and tomato on a fresh cheese bun. I had the same thing only without the bun.

We were picking up Mama Lee at 12:30 to take her to vote.

There was a polling station two blocks from her place.We bundled Mama Lee up nice and warm and made our way down to Como Lake Middle school where the polling station is. I pushed mama Lee half way around the school before we realised we could have parked right outside the doors. The lovely Lisa went back and got the truck and drove around to the parking lot in back where the polling booth is.

Democracy in Action!

I took Mama Lee up to the desk to register. The woman at the desk asked Mama Lee her name and Mama Lee wasn't able to project well enough for the woman to hear her. I said Emilee Geraghty. The woman at the desk said "You can't do that, she has to say her own name. Mama Lee tried again. A whisper.

I had to do this once before at the bank. I told the woman to just ask her if I'm allowed to speak for her. She did and Mama Lee said yes and nodded in agreement. I registered myself and then we were given giant cards to vote on with specific instructions on how to mark the ballot. We were electing one mayor, eight counsellors and four school board trustees. It was actually quite complicated. There were a lot of names. I knew who I was going to vote for so I made it through the process with very little difficulty. I can't say the same for Mama Lee. After I had finished my card and put it into the polling machine, I thought I would go and give Mama Lee a hand.

It turns out you're not actually allowed to do that without first filling out a form and getting permission.

Mama Lee went a little crazy with the marker. There must have been thirty marker marks on that ballot. She's very kind like that. She thought everyone had tried so hard, they should all get elected.

Kind of like a participation ribbon. Which they actually give you after you vote successfully. Mama Lee almost didn't get one. It's a sticker really it says, "I voted" It took a couple of tries for Mama Lee to get her sticker. Today was municipal election day. I think it is the most important election that we have. Particularly if you are a homeowner. The municipal government affects your daily living more than any other level of government, yet in Coquitlam, where I live, in the last municipal election, in 2011, only 21.7 percent of eligible voters took the time to vote. I find that funny because it seems that 100 percent of the eligible voters take the time to complain about the job the politicians, that they didn't vote for are doing! Ignoring the fact that they didn't vote.

We drop mama Lee back off at home. The dogs needed to be let out and I had a little project I was going to do.

I got home and changed into some clothes that I could work in. I was putting down some no slip strips on the ramp and the back stairs. It took me about an hour and a half mostly because it was freakin cold! I kept coming in the house to make myself a cup of Joe just to warm up.

Safety stripped

When I came in the house, our friend Lea was on the phone. She said that Daryl was having a jam tonight and I should come over to his place, which is in my neighbourhood. Lisa was taking Mama Lee to see Bob Newhart tonight and I was on my own so, count me in. We had dinner together about 5:30. I swear the lovely Lisa's pulled pork is better the second day. Reheated in a very hot frying pan, on corn tortillas with coleslaw and guacamole, oh my goodness gracious me. I could have eaten ten of them.

I left the house about 7:30 to go to Darryl's for the jam. He lives only a couple of kilometres from our house. Of course I thought I knew where I was going so I never punched the address into the Bitch in box. Instead I drove aimlessly around the neighbourhood where I thought he lived for fifteen minutes before I finally punch the address into the B.I.B. I had driven past it three times. I've jammed with Darryl and his friends many times, but this was the first time I'd actually been to his house. He had a great space and Bill Taylor was there and set up his P.A. It was great! There were at least fifteen different people playing so many different instruments. I had brought along my lap steel, not sure if I was going to play it or not. I haven't quite got the hang of playing minor chords yet and am still learning the instrument.

We be Jammin'

I was able to jam a couple of old blues classics in E and A and a couple of D C G rockers. I actually got quite a few compliments on my playing. They might have been drunk! Then a couple of new people sat in and we started playing in Am, so I switched to the guitar. There were so many talented musicians there, including my brother-in-law Steve who showed up about 10 o'clock after he finished work.