- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Miscellany
- Hits: 1844
The last couple of weeks, cooler, the threat of rain every day, the abrupt end of summer. The customers, largely disappeared - coming in to say goodbye, the vacationers that stay for the season and have made us their regular hangout are packing up their cottages and returning - to Calgary, to California, Arizona, warmer climes, the winter will be lean indeed...and I want to chastise them, for not renting their cottages to me, for not somehow compromising and accommodating the locals, but it's not my place, and the winter grows darker and colder in the basement...
Wake up, early, no great peaks are visible from the restaurant but on the low-slung saddles of the mountains you can see the snow beginning, the reversal of spring when the snow gradually went up the mountains, the snow is now starting to appear at the tops, gone by noon, gone by 2:00, now staying the entire day and creeping down towards the lake... I am lost in Foon.
- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Miscellany
- Hits: 1995
For the moment, while deflecting the onslaught of bills, car repairs, insurance, lockers, phone, many, many others, I take refuge in the staff accommodation. Temporary, a dark basement, no sunlight whatsoever, fluorescent lights that only occasionally work, no internet, a good night gives you stop-motion pornography - a mere one bar on the computer, on the phone none, a shower that jets steam and ice water alternately despite the tap, the clutter of bad furniture, bedding, finding a place here, it's been a constant battle and it's wearing me down, this getting settled, and time is passing...
- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Miscellany
- Hits: 1786
Forest Fire east of Harrop, smoke billowing over mountain. It's about 5 or ten km up the valley...the sky's still blue. The next morning though...
The other side of the lake has disappeared into the haze, the smoke, you can't really smell it, but it's clammy and clings to your skin...
- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Miscellany
- Hits: 1962
When I think about it, they all do here. A stark contrast to Alberta. You can buy cigarettes, liquor, lottery tickets, all the major government subsidies, at a single store. One trip. This is amazing.
- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Miscellany
- Hits: 1728
A hot day off, early drinking to beat the heat. Ferry over to Kootenay Bay, then the drive down to Creston, I gotta hit the prospecting shop...
I get what I need, a hand dredge and crevassing tool, good for sniping, that's my next day off's goal...
A local mural:
Absurd. Brings to mind the phrase "The road to hell is paved with good intentions", to which I'd append "...and bad slogans and murals...".
Now to check out a few of the antique shops.
1, owner or employee grumpy, behind the counter, hates the foot traffic, a lot of junk, reasonably priced, but junk, he's not getting out of his chair to show you anything, just grunts and sullenly suffers your shopping...
But a couple of other shops and I get lucky:
A vintage microphone, perfect for podcasting, just need a plug adapter to make it fit my computer, very cool.
And:
Classic piece of bad retro, spin the wheel to find the cocktail you wanna make, most I've never heard of, the ideal accessory for the hipster bar as ridiculous cocktails return to vogue...
From here to check out a couple of wineries, good, looking at the menu of one - "We politely decline all substitutions:" and steak: "Served Medium Rare".
Nice. It's good, heartening, especially in hospitality, to see a chef doing things his way. Serving you note how many people try and fuck with the food, have ridiculous special requests, "dietary allergies", ridiculous, where I work - ok, doesn't matter, but if you're trying to cook for the higher end and educated populace it doesn't hurt to remind them. Want your steak well done? Go someplace else. Can't eat this? Order something else. It made me happy, the crowd that needs to have a say in every detail of their burger, they're not the easiest to serve. This place, with it's no-nonsense menu, this would be a better clientele...
Now the thrift shops in Creston, they open 4-7:00, ridiculously busy, lineups of thrifty shoppers, never seen this in my life, it's not a sale day, an ordinary day, they're opening a bit later than normal and for some reason that's drawn them all out like zombies...no finds here.
The drive home, it's early yet but the pall from the smoke and the fires casts a sunset glow on the side of the road...
