Lord Tweedsmuir Class of 2023

 

360 Graduates

The ceremony was held at the Bell Centre in Surrey.   Watching the graduates cross the stage was awesome.  Some took selfies with the audience and one guy did a back flip!  I loved the guy who said "my career in becoming a barber started in the washrooms of Lord Tweedsmuir and will continue until I own my own shop"!  Lots of students going into the trades and many going to different universities.   The scholarships were many and so many students got a 4.0 for the year, with some getting a 4.0 award for five years!

We are so proud of Lexie.  She was always on the honour roll and really enjoyed high school.  She has many friends she will always keep.  She's off to Simon Fraser University to study Criminology.

Thursday Chuckles

 

Happy Wednesday

1.  I used to be able to do cartwheels. Now I tip over putting on my underwear.

2.   Hate it when I see an old person and then realize we went to high school together.

 

3.  I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes... so she hugged me.

 

4.  My wife says I only have 2 faults. I don't listen and something else....

 

5.  At my funeral, take the bouquet off my coffin and throw it into the crowd to see who is next

 

 6.  I thought growing old would take longer.

 

7.  I came, I saw, I forgot what I was doing. Retraced my steps, got lost on the way back, now I have no idea what's going on.

 

 8.  The officer said, "You drinking?" I said, "You buying?" We just laughed and laughed.... I need bail money.

 

 9.  Day 12 without chocolate. Lost hearing in my left eye.

 

10.  Scientists say the universe is made up of protons, neutrons and electrons. They forgot to mention morons.

 

 11.  The adult version of "head, shoulders, knees and toes" is "wallet, glasses, keys and phone."

 

12.  A dog accepts you as the boss... a cat wants to see your resume.

 

13.  Oops.... did I roll my eyes out loud?

 

 14.  Life is too short to waste time matching socks.

 

15.  Wi-fi went down for five minutes, so I had to talk to my family. They seem like nice people.

 

16.  If you see me talking to myself, just move along. I'm self-employed; we're having a staff meeting.

 

17.  I won't be impressed with technology until I can download food.

 

18.  Some people call me crazy. I prefer ‘happy with a twist’.

 

19.  My doctor asked if anyone in my family suffers from mental illness. I said, "No, we all seem to enjoy it."

 

20.  I really don't mind getting old, but my body is having a major fit.

 

21.  Camping: where you spend a small fortune to live like a homeless person.

 

22.  Project Manager. Because Miracle Worker isn't an official job title.

 

23.  I told my wife I wanted to be cremated. She made me an appointment for Tuesday.

 

 24.  The world's best antidepressant has 4 legs, a wagging tail and comes with unconditional love.

 

25.  Love is how excited your dog gets when you come home.

 

26.  I've reached the age where my train of thought often leaves the station without me.

 

27.  If you're happy and you still know it, it's your meds.

Musical Ride continued

After the RCMP Musical Ride was over, we met Mayor Brenda Locke and Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards.  Yesterday I posted a picture of Eileen Mohan with Brian Edwards and Brenda Locke.  I had never met Eileen Mohan but had the pleasure of meeting her and taking her picture.  She is a lovely lady who lost her only son as a victim in the Surrey Six massacre!  He lived in the apartment across from the crime scene and was caught in the crossfire in 2007.  Since the death of her son she has become a vocal advocate against gang and gun violence.  She posted this on Twitter yesterday:

It was such a pleasure to be in the company of our RCMP force in Surrey for the Surrey RCMP 2023 Musical Ride and met up with these brilliant n beautiful people n horses. Thank you Assistant Commissioner Edward’s for the invite ❤️

I had never met Brian Edward before, but I've watched him speak in Council and to the media and he is a true professional and a credit to the RCMP.   

After the performance, the members brought the horses to the fence and let people get their picture taken and pet the horses.  The members were all answering questions from parents and children.  There were a lot of children and we were about 30 minutes talking to dignitaries and waiting for the crowd to disburse and on our way out, I took this picture:

It was a hot day and the RCMP riders stayed for over 30 minutes talking to the people who came to see them.   This picture was taken when almost everyone left.  Their uniforms are warm and I'm sure the horses needed a drink.  

RCMP Musical Ride comes to Cloverdale

 

This weekend the RCMP Musical Ride came to the Stetson Bowl in Cloverdale.   There were three sold out shows!  The tickets were $10.00 with all proceeds going to Surrey Hospital and the Surrey Food Bank.  It is a great facility with plenty of free parking!  We attended the Sunday 3 PM performance.  The weather was fabulous and thankfully it's covered so we didn't get sunburned. 

Dome formation as shown on the Canadian $50 Dollar Bill

Brian Edwards, Asst. Commissioner, Surrey RCMP; Eileen Mohan, mother of slain son Chris Mohan
and Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke

We met my cousin Stephen and his wife Pat yesterday at the performance.  We went with my long time friend Laurie who worked tirelessly on the Keep The RCMP campaign in Surrey.  Stephen attended many Surrey Council meetings when Laurie was there.  They never knew each other but today they became friends!  I gave Stephen my "I 💖RCMP"

pin that he has proudly pinned to his shirt and will wear it to the next council meeting!

Great picture of Stephen and Laurie!

Here is a short video I took:

A lovely afternoon in downtown Vancouver

 It was cool and a nice day to go downtown.  We had lunch at the Rogue in Sinclair Center.  On our way out of the station, we heard bagpipes.  Then we saw this guy play this and it sounded exactly like bagpipes!

The fellow walked and the steps pumped air into the "bag" pipes!  The sound was excellent.

The Majestic Princess was in town!

The west side of Canada Place

There were lots of volunteers offering maps of the downtown area.  They even asked us if we needed a map.  Great for visitors to our city.  I guess we looked like tourists.

Nice to see the Koningsdam again!

We are looking forward to our Alaska cruise in 23 days!

More great advice

 You hear of many people lost on a hike with little battery left in their cell phones.  Here is some great advice:

Some good advice

WRITTEN BY A POLICE OFFICER:

Everyone should take 5 minutes to read this. It may save your life or a loved one's life. In daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation... This is for you, and for you to share with your wife, your children, & everyone you know. After reading these 9 crucial tips, forward them to someone you care about. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. Learned this from a tourist guide. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse,....... DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM.

Toss it away from you... Chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse.

AND RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy.. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc.)... DON'T DO THIS!

The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your HEAD and tell you where to go.

AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE..

If someone is in the car with a gun to your head

DO NOT DRIVE OFF....... Repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF!!!!

Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it.

As soon as the car crashes......BAIL OUT AND RUN!!!!

It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:

A.) BE AWARE... look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor and in the back seat.

B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door.

Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.

C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side.. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out.

IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.

(And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot.

This is especially true at NIGHT!)

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN!

The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then,

it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN!!!!

Preferably in a zig -zag pattern!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP!!!

It may get you raped or killed.

(Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked 'for help' into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next VICTIM). 

9. Another Safety Point:

Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last and because it was late and she thought it was weird. She called the police.

The police told her 'Whatever you do, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR!

The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a windrow and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, do not open the door.' He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby.. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night.

10. Water scam!

If you wake up in the middle of the night to hear all your taps outside running or what you think is a burst pipe.....

DO NOT GO OUT TO INVESTIGATE!

These people turn on all your outside taps full blast so that you will go out to investigate and then attack.

Stay alert, keep safe, and look out for your neighbors! 

Red Hat Lunch

Yesterday we had our June Red Hat lunch at Oceana Parc in White Rock.  It was one of the nicest lunches we've ever had.

23 members attended, the largest lunch I've ever been at for this group!  The table was amazing.  They had a BBQ lunch of burgers of your choice, potato salad, green salad, fresh vegetables and potato chips.  It was delicious!

Most of the ladies are married and we found this cartoon quite amusing!

Today's chuckle

 

Quite a day in city politics

I wasn't going to post on this subject but I know some people want to keep updated.  Yesterday, Minister Farnworth said he needed a report from the city on their vote by 1 PM or he would just make a decision without the cities input.

It took the Province six months to prepare the report.  Minister Farnworth wants an answer in two business days!  The Mayor reached out to both the Premier and Minister by phone and email to discuss the in camera meeting on Friday.  They never returned her call or answered her email.

The Province wants us to transition to our own police force.  We've been told the costs to transition are high and continuing with the RCMP would be financially our best choice.  Our crime rates have decreased over the last five years.  

At 12:15, Mayor Brenda Locke held a press conference and I watched it live.  It was the most bizarre press conference I've ever seen.  

Jas Johal a former MLA and broadcaster has a talk show on a local radio station.  I don't listen to his show, but I do follow him on twitter.  He tweeted this at 1:30:

One of the core issues the Surrey City report addresses I am told is cost. The 2020 Oppal Report projected that operating expenses for the SPS would add $19 million to the city's operating budget in its first year of full operation ($95 million over 5 years)

In November of 2022, the city identified $235 million in operating costs (5-year). This was before the city had access to the Collective Agreement

When city staff did go through the collective agreement, they found an additional $300 million in operating costs (5-year) due to staffing clauses. Meaning the total operating expense increase to Surrey would be $535 million over 5 years.

So.. .(drum roll please)...the difference between the 2020 Oppal Report’s 5-year projection (McCallum era) and the current Surrey staff report is $440 million dollars.

So that's operational.  What about capital costs? The 2020 Oppal Report estimated $40 million in one-time capital and transitional costs.  The Surrey staff reports estimates costs between $175 and $280 million.

 It's important to note, that some costs can be amortized, but certainly not all. Rough estimate between Oppal Report’s 5-year projection and the city estimate, is about $130 million plus.

2020 Oppal report says SPS would have 805 officers.  However, 2022 collective agreement requires a minimum of 2 officers in each patrol car.  Does this not mean 300 officers would have to be hired? What does this do to budget?

There is information from a trusted source who did his research!  

From a live tweeter at last night's council meeting:

Mayor moves on to policing.  Says council voted 6 - 3 to keep the RCMP in the closed meeting the other day.  Says Surrey had made it's decision and the RCMP can meet the conditions set by the province.  Says she is disappointed by Eby and Farnworth and asks them "to stop fear mongering".

Mayor continues to say the city report was sent to the Solicitor General and she hopes the province will accept the city's choice.

The fun never stops!

Trouble in Victoria?

I've seen this a few times on Twitter and it's true.  

BC Gov now advertising for Assistant Deputy Minister Police Services Branch, 5th ADM appointed in 4 years following Butterworth Carr, Wayne Rideout, Jamie Lipp (Acting) & Glen Lewis - Gov sources say political interference & NDP putting politics before public safety caused vacancy.

another post on Twitter and I couldn't agree more:

It's convenient that Horgan retired before he had to deal with the mess that Farnworth created without any real facts or due diligence on the part of the NDP. Hiring Old Boys Club Heed & Oppal for support & promising some contracts if the SPS transition went through. Collusion!!

I'm not the only one upset with the one sided media. Lynda Steele who broadcasts out of Check TV Victoria on a weekly show is wife of the Norm Lipinski, SPS Police Chief . She has a lot of contacts and the media has been so biased. Here is another tweet and I'm happy people are speaking up:

It's actually the single most egregious act of media bias in BC history. Never before has anyone allowed a media platform to spew such one sided bile. And to sit there and nod like a bobblehead. It's jaw dropping. I've stopped watching their shoe and encourage others to stop, too

It's not only the Jody Vance and Lynda Steele show on Check TV, it's every news cast in Vancouver.

Ivan Scott has asked for Minister Farnworth's resignation.  It's not going to happen.  Eby needs to look into what's gone on and act accordingly.  I've seen pictures of wealthy developers, along with a former mayor in Victoria having lunch with people in the aforementioned department.  Won't name names, don't want to be sued, however, we all know developer money is behind this entire transition. 

Here is a letter sent to Minister Farnworth.  I didn't write it but I agree with it:

Dear Mr Farnworth. If you have the people's safety at heart you would never have allowed a transition to start. It is with huge regret that the people are now in a mess made by you. I can only hope that the next provincial election will rid Surrey of the costly disaster of your making. May the NDP not even win one seat. If you gain power again, it will be time to move to a province that reads, cares, votes at all levels of government that spends our hard earned taxes.

I would say best regards, but I don't even believe you deserve that much. This states what many of the Surrey residents and BC residents are feeling thanks to the lack of due diligence on behalf of the NDP at the start and the collusion behind this SPS transition.

Flamin' Hot

We just finished watching this movie on Disney +.  They say it's a true story, but some are saying it isn't true.  I really didn't care.  It's a lovely story of a man who had a horrible childhood, dropped out of school, and was on the wrong path!  

Richard Montanez was pulled over with his pregnant wife for being in possession of a stolen car.  He had guns in the car, warrants for his arrest, he was dealing in and had possession of drugs.  A very lenient judge said "I think you can do better, prove to me you can do better".  This was a turning point and things went much better.

It's a heartwarming story and I really enjoyed it.  It was directed by Eva Longoria. 

Finally a decision on policing from Surrey City Council

Yesterday, Mayor Brenda Locke announced the results of a vote made in camera for the police of jurisdiction.   According to Richard Zussman of Global News, his sources told him the vote was 6 - 3 in favor of keeping the RCMP.  The last vote taken in the fall was 5 - 4 and I think Linda Annis flipped to vote for the RCMP.  The reason I think it's Linda is she is level headed and isn't a member of McCallum's or Locke's political party.  She has flip flopped on this as she was with the keeping the RCMP while McCallum was in office but then changed to support the SPS after the last election.  I respect her as she's a good councillor!  She was the first to sign the non-disclosure agreement and read the unredacted police report prepared by the Director of Police Services for the Province of British Columbia.

The misinformation by Global and CTV is disheartening.  For months they have been reporting a lot of errors.  They continually say the SPS has 400 employees.  Minister Farnworth says the SPS has 350 employees making everything think they are boots on the ground.  According to Brian Edwards, Assistant Commissioner of the Surrey RCMP, 176 SPS officers have been working side by side with 544 RCMP officers.  The difference is administrative and non-policing duties that can be reassigned within the RCMP.  They are not police officers as the news is inferring.  

I wish everything was transparent but the Provincial Government redacted most of the report.  They made all the council members sign a non-disclosure agreement to read the unredacted copy.  Linda Annis was the first to sign the NDA and she moved from supporting the SPS to the RCMP after reading the report.  I have a PDF copy of the redacted report if anyone wants to read it.  I can't attach it to my blog so message me and I'll email it to you.  You can see exactly how much the province is sheltering from taxpayers.

An in camera meeting at Surrey City Hall was held on Wednesday.  Because it's in camera, they cannot talk about it.  We won't get transparency because the Province won't let any of them talk about the report, we as taxpayers paid for!  As a taxpayer, I would like to know how they came up to the decision they made but that won't happen and it's frustrating.

If anyone is wondering about the $150 million over five years we were promised to receive from the Provincial Government if we transitioned to the SPS, the extra cost the government said of transitioning would be $30 million a year.  Minister Farnworth didn't take into consideration, a new gun range, loss of the 2 helicopters and the IT infrastructure that everyone thought wasn't needed.  No SPS car has a computer.  They need an entire new computer system, software and hardware!  Those costs were never accounted for!  The $72 million in severance will be paid off, and we won't pay $30 million plus inflation forever.  

The citizens of Surrey have asked for two referendums.  They were both refused by our provincial government.  We had an election and the platform of Brenda Locke was to continue with the RCMP as our police force.  We've spoken and Minister Farnworth should listen to us!    

Those hackers are getting smart, BEWARE

 Hackers are getting pretty smart on trying to fool us.  Check this out:

I didn't know this!  Whenever I get anything to from my bank, I just walk over and speak to a teller!  Once I was trying to transfer a small amount of money to a friend in California.  I knew him very well but the bank gave me the third degree.  I understand why they asked me many questions and it took over an HOUR, but they were doing their job.  They finally wired the money from my US account to him. 

Anne Frank

I just saw this post.  Anne Frank's birthday was June 12th.  Her life has been documented on a new series called A Silent Light being shown on National Geographic TV.  I haven't seen it, but it gets great reviews and I will watch it.  

Today I should have been ninety four, 

I would be having a party with cake

I’d have two fine sons and a daughter too

Grandchildren to cuddle and stay.

I’d have met a great man, dashing and tall

He’d have worked in an office in town

We’d have lived in the country, two dogs and a cat

I’d have had a fine wedding gown. 

Margot would have lived nearby, 

Surely a mother herself?

My mother and father would have been so proud

We’d have raised a glass to good health.

Instead we slept on wooden slats 

As we shivered with hunger and cold

We were beaten for any discriminatory thing

We were given no toys to hold. 

My mother was starving, she gave us her food

Scabies was rife in our camp

I wanted to die, this wasn’t life

Living with rats in the damp. 

My best friend was in the camp next door

I missed her riotous laugh

I was glad to have my sister with me

Loneliness, was my first and my last.

I dreamed of food that I could eat

I wished for potatoes and meat

If I survived, I’d wash it all down

With wine and something sweet.

Typhus arrived and we both got sick

 Doctors were never called in

We died one by one, Margot went first 

Death was an easier win.

I hope I didn’t die in vain 

I hope the world has learned

Hatred has no place in life 

My diary forever preserved. 

In honour of Anne Frank 12.06.1929 - 1945

Anne died at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in February or March 1945.  It was liberated by British and Canadian soldiers on April 15, 1945.  My cousin Dale told me her dad was one of the soldiers who helped liberate the camp.  The horrors of what he saw haunted him his entire life!

I hope the horrors of what happened in Europe are never forgotten!

Bear

 

This is Bear.  He is a Persian cat.  He is a lovely cat that was not happy at his old home.  Bear is around 6 and was the only pet until they got Charlie:

Charlie has grown a lot since this picture, but he's a wonderful dog.  The two boys love Charlie and have ignored Bear since Charlie's arrival!  They are moving and are going into temporary housing for two weeks before the new house is ready.  Bear hides when he's inside and spends a lot of time outside hiding from Charlie.  They were worried about losing him, so they asked Grandpa to look after him.

Bear is 20 pounds.  He's a big boy.  Brad sent me this video of Bear at Grandpa's laying on his back in the middle of the floor washing himself.   A cat who lays on his back is very content and happy.  There is no dog at Grandpa's house and he gets all the attention.  He never goes outside now he's got a new home he stopped hiding after one day.  He's found his furever home!  

Bear hasn't been groomed for a while and is matted.  Grandpa has a vet very close by and the records were moved from his former vet to the close vet.  Yesterday he went in for grooming!  The vet said he was very healthy and his shots are up to date.  He's a little overweight.  Here is his new look but it will grow back and with constant brushing shouldn't need to do this again. Here is Bare (I changed the spelling of his name):

I WON THE LOTTERY!

We didn't win the BC49, 6/49 or Lotto Max, but the High School Graduation Ticket Lottery!  Lexie 's high school has a large graduating class.  The ceremonies are at the Bell Center.  Every graduating student is allowed two tickets for parents.  If you want additional tickets you go into a lottery.  Cheryl asked months ago if we were interested and today she received this:

Your LTSS 2023 Graduate has been selected to receive extra commencement tickets for the 2023 LTSS Graduation Commencement Ceremony.  There were not enough tickets to fill every request and so, therefore, we have made the process equitable for all our graduates and their families.

 

The next step is to purchase your allotment of extra tickets through School Cash Online OR in person at the office with cash only.  We have added the number of extra tickets that you are eligible to purchase to your account.

 

Each extra ticket is $5, with this money going towards a scholarship for one of our 2023 LTS Grads.

I will go out today and get a BC49, a 6/49 and a Lotto Max! 

Feeling old

I wasn't around in 4/4/44 but I have a first cousin and that's the day she was born!  I never forget her birthday! 

National Corn on the Cob Day!

Today is National Corn on the Cob Day.  It's a little early for corn on the cob.  It's not usually ready where I live until August.  With the heat we've had perhaps this year will be earlier.  

Elisabeth's Chalet

Elisabeth's Chalet has been in Cloverdale for over 30 years.  We love Elisabeth's and the previous owners were a lovely European couple.  Elisabeth passed away a few years ago and her husband kept the restaurant going.  We would go to Elisabeth's for special occasions.  The schnitzel and spaetzle were delicious.  

Last year the restaurant was sold and the Elisabeth's sign went down and the Indian Food sign went up.  We never went back. They told us the Indian cuisine didn't go over well and then the Indian restaurant sign was replaced by Elisabeth's European Cuisine sign!

We've been back for dinner and the menu and dinners were exactly what was served for 30 years!  They must have kept the cook!  

Yesterday we went for lunch.  I planned on schnitzel and spaetzle but they offered us a special summer lunch menu.

Lunch is $14.95 and if you read the bottom, you get a glass of German beer for free!  We both had the seafood crepe with fruit and Caesar salad and it was delicious!  We really enjoyed the beer.

If you want a delicious lunch, go to Elisabeth's!  It never disappoints.

Climate Change

Fighting climate change shouldn't be a partisan issue. Fires, floods, and other climate disasters are a threat to us all. We can't afford to play politics with our own survival.

The Black Phone

I read this heartwarming article and I thought it was well worth the read:

The Black Telephone

Those of us old enough to remember when the phone was wired to the wall, usually in the kitchen, can relate to this story. I loved this read.

When I was a young boy, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box.. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it.

Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person. Her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone's number and the correct time.

My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer, the pain was terrible, but there seemed no point in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy. I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway.

The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear. "Information, please," I said into the mouthpiece just above my head.

A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear. "Information."

"I hurt my finger..." I wailed into the phone, the tears came readily enough now that I had an audience.. "Isn't your mother home?" came the question "Nobody's home but me," I blubbered.  "Are you bleeding?" the voice asked  "No, "I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts."  "Can you open the icebox?" she asked.  I said I could.

"Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger," said the voice.

After that, I called "Information Please" for everything. I asked her for help with my geography, and she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped me with my math.

She told me my pet chipmunk that I had caught in the park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts.

Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary, died. I called, "Information Please," and told her the sad story. She listened, and then said things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was not consoled. I asked her, "Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?"

She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, " Wayne , always remember that there are other worlds to sing in." Somehow I felt better.

Another day I was on the telephone, "Information Please."

"Information," said in the now familiar voice.

"How do I spell fix?" I asked

All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest . When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston . I missed my friend very much.

"Information Please" belonged in that old wooden box back home and I somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me. Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy.

A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle . I had about a half-hour or so between planes. I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information Please." Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well.  "Information."

I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell fix?"

There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, "I guess your finger must have healed by now."

I laughed, "So it's really you," I said. "I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time?"

"I wonder," she said, "if you know how much your calls meant to me. I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls."

I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.

"Please do," she said. "Just ask for Sally."

Three months later I was back in Seattle .

A different voice answered, "Information."

I asked for Sally.

"Are you a friend?" she said.

"Yes, a very old friend," I answered.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this," She said. "Sally had been working part time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago."

Before I could hang up, she said, "Wait a minute, did you say your name was Wayne ?" "

"Yes." I answered.

Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down in case you called. Let me read it to you. The note said, "Tell him there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean."

I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.

Never underestimate the impression you may make on others. Whose life have you touched today?

Food for thought

01. If a bottle of poison reaches its expiration date, is it more poisonous or is it no longer poisonous? 

02. Which letter is silent in the word "Scent," the S or the C?

03. Do twins ever realize that one of them is unplanned?

04. Every time you clean something, you just make something else dirty.

05. The word "swims" upside-down is still "swims".

06. Over 100 years ago, everyone owned a horse and only the rich had cars Today everyone has cars and only the rich own horses. 

07. If people evolved from monkeys, why are monkeys still around?

08. Why is there a 'D' in fridge, but not in refrigerator? 

09. As I've grown older, I've learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everyone off is a piece of cake!

10. I'm responsible for what I say, not for what you understand. 

11. Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it the most never use it.

12. My tolerance for idiots is extremely low these days. I used to have some immunity built up, but obviously, there's a new strain out there. 

14. It's not my age that bothers me - it's the side effects. 

15. I'm not saying I'm old and worn out, but I make sure I'm nowhere near the curb on trash day. 

16. As I watch this generation try and rewrite our history, I'm sure of one thing: it will be misspelled and have no punctuation. 

17. As I've gotten older, people think I've become lazy. The truth is I'm just being more energy-efficient. 

18. I haven't gotten anything done today. I've been in the Produce Department trying to open this stupid plastic bag. 

19. If you find yourself feeling useless, remember: it took 20 years, trillions of dollars, thousands of lives and four presidents to replace the Taliban with the Taliban. 

20. Turns out that being a "senior" is mostly just googling how to do stuff. 

21. I want to be 18 again and ruin my life differently. I have new ideas 

22. I'm on two simultaneous diets. I wasn't getting enough food on one. 

23. I put my scale in the bathroom corner and that's where the little liar will stay until it apologizes. 

24. My mind is like an internet browser. At least 18 open tabs, 3 of them are frozen, and I have no clue where the music is coming from. 

25. Hard to believe I once had a phone attached to a wall, and when it rang, I picked it up without knowing who was calling. 

26. My wife says I keep pushing her buttons. If that were true, I would have found mute by now. 

27. There is no such thing as a grouchy old person. The truth is that once you get old, you stop being polite and start being honest.