Wetter Than An Astronauts Diaper

It's wetter than an astronauts diaper, the rain has been almost non-stop for the last three days, with another weeks worth forecast. I can't even take pictures. What's the world coming to?? Huston, we have a problem. Since moving to Denman Island, I rarely watch the news, listen to the radio or read the paper.... then I watch one day and all hell breaks loose. Prince's porno half-time-shadow-puppet show, Princess Anna Nicole completing her Marilyn carbon-copy life, The Queen of the North really did go down with a bang! This stuff is better than any fiction you could possibly read. OMG, it's time to build the bunker.
Then there's the Guy in Williams Lake (my hero) that decides (in protest) to pay his property taxes in pennies. The courier shows up at the Gov't office with a 75 pound package. The clerk freaks and calls the cops, who evacuate the civic building including the courthouse just in case this package turns out to be a bomb. So, they get that sorted out after calling the return addressee. The kicker is; they have no mechanical change counter or coin roller, so 18,000 pennies have to counted and rolled by hand (i assume) by union labour... which takes a couple of days, effectively eating up any net revenue.

Sometime over the last week, I hit the 1000 milestone for blog hits. Strange, but true.

Excerpt from CJ in NZ email #1"Sweet as..weve made it to hastings and have been staying at the Rotten Apple backpackers...weve successfully run out of money...well very close anyways...and for awhile today it seemed as though it would be weeks until we found work..but we finally found someone who wants us full time picking pears and apples..and we will be camping in the orchard...everything is good here..."
email #2 "Denise and I have a sweet new job with a place to sleep now...were staying on the orchard that we now work for in Hastings, NZ..we were offered a Caravan/Trailer to stay in for 65 a week...good deal considering were making more than a hundred each a day...so yea...it is very roomy with working stove, fridge, tv w reception...everything is on the up and up and were not broke anymore...yay"

I hardly feel entitled to an opinion on the contentious issue of the Denman North lands Development. There are many people that have dedicated endless hours of community building here. They are the depth and breadth of Denman Society, a society that is genuinely built on volunteer commitments. Aside from the things that an increased population base would bring, (that nobody wants), eg: increased ferry traffic and permanent police presence, there is an unarguable risk of a diluted Denman social fibre. The reason that draws people here is the endearing properties of a low-density community, the very thing that is eroded, as the population increases.
A knock on your car window while on the ferry is a common occurrence, as the success rate is high for hitching a ride to & from the island while on the ferry. So when there was a knock on my window last Sunday while leaving the Island I galdly offered a ride to a fella whose flight from Comox had been fogged in. He turns out to be the facilitator (PR Guy) for the developer of the North Lands. It made for an interesting hour of conversation and exchange of views.

Dave's (Cheap) Wine Corner
When I get a few moments, I'll edit my cheap wine links, cause let's face it, some don't tout cheap wine. If they can't come up with a few winners for under $15 bucks, they just don't deserve the privilage of links from my blog! So, what's your fav cheapie? <$15 Submit it under comments....and please; NO Yellowtail. Some time ago, I picked up a bottle of "CARMENERE". I'd never had this variety of wine from Chile. The brand is "Morande". It's been available at LCB for the last year on a speculative basis - $13.99 (private wine stores for more) It's now on phase out at $9.99 (LCB) Here's what Gismondi says about this '04 vintage...."It looks as if the '04 is carbon copy of the delicious 02. The fruit is again ripe and juicy with flecks chocolate and pepper. Very carmenère but ripe and the finish is smooth and dry with earthy peppery flavours. Still great value but available in government liquor stores at prices well below what the private stores were selling it for." Ya, what he said, I concur! This was a very nice wine and even better the next day! I must learn to decant! The sku# is 7418 should you want to search at the LCB site for a supply near you.
You've gotta check out Gary on Wine Library TV. He's a beaut. Although most of his tastings are not available here (some are) ... do check the archives on segments about "educating your pallet" , Wine & Food Pairings or other wine subjects of interest. May I suggest uncorking an "04 Morande and watching a little Wine TV. Enjoy.