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changed username to Ron rich-c: hi Ron, drying out now? Ron: Well....wherever two or three are gathered together Ron: dying out? rich-c: absolutely - gather your weather has improved Ron: yes. We seem to be back to normal more or less. Snow has gone rich-c: we don't have that much snow, but at -20 that's to be expected Ron: disappears very quickly when the temp goes from -5 to +10 Ron: You're in the deep freeze rich-c: yes, we're to be up to freezing tomorrow so will get some thawing in the sun (if any) rich-c: yes, we have been really cold - -22 overnight and that's in the city Ron: boy rich-c: don't you miss Ottawa on days like this ;-) Ron: yeah right (NOT) rich-c: so how is your mother doing? recovering? Ron: Better today Rich, thanks. She actually asked for scrambled eggs this morning, so that's positive rich-c: still a long way from well, then, I gather - but at least reading on the plus side rich-c: got our own jolt yesterday, though not unexpected Ron: well she's still quite weak, but I think she's thru the worst of it now Ron: oh? rich-c: Pamela got her notice - Speedy closes down March 12th Ron: not good rich-c: there will be a good severance plus supplemental generosity Ron: well let's hope so rich-c: but I worry about her finding a suitable new job Ron: right rich-c: they are offering job-hunting help and salary continuation through August Ron: Well, that's a help. What's the job market like in Toronto? rich-c: but teh problem is, her skills aren't ones that show up on paper Ron: Sounds like the company is trying to do what it can rich-c: I think the job situation is generally buoyant, but how patchy that is I don't know Ron: that can be a problem Ron: She knew this was coming? rich-c: well, her big asset is her social skills, which means she will have quite a network rich-c: in the sense that yes, the purchase offer has been known for some months rich-c: and the declared intentions of teh buyer sounded ominous Ron: yes, think I recall her talking about it Ron: Around here, if you don't have a network, you won't find work. But we're a much smaller market rich-c: essentially, they're going to restructure the company and run it from teh Alberta headquarters Ron: Damned westerners rich-c: no comment Ron: :) Ron: I am quite happy to be through those days rich-c: the problem is she only has grade 12 academically - she refused to go further Ron: Our community net has a program run jointly with the local Human Resources Canada office wher rich-c: but ass you know she is very fluent and articulate Ron: where we get the benefit of a 6 month term while they pay the wages Ron: People on the program are essentially looking for work but we furnish some employment they can put on a resume rich-c: I'm sure HRC has something similar in Toronto - bureaucratized to suit the size of teh market Ron: W have people with us who have degrees up the ying yang, but can't find a job Ron: no doubt rich-c: well, Pamela has a long solid work history going for her and should get a glowing recommendation Ron: Oh I'm sure. You're right.... she has the people skills, and projects confidence Ron: I'd consider that a plus rich-c: actually, Erin says the newly installed politicians are looking for good help and there are opportunities at Queens Park Ron: might be a lead rich-c: she was even trying to get Pam to apply for one post last month but Pam was preoccupied with the wedding rich-c: problem is, these would be political posts, not civil service Ron: yes.... " at the pleasure of Her Majesty" rich-c: exactly - as long as teh boss tolerates you, or the government lasts Ron: or in other words, for as long as your boss holds political favour Ron: and you serve your boss Ron: right rich-c: there is teh advantage though that you get to know the civil service and hear about openings Ron: yes.... a foot in the door rich-c: exactly - the job requires working with poeple, who talk... Ron: and talk, and talk rich-c: especially about those "open competitions" for positions Ron: I remember going to meetings with these people. Talk about a different perspective Ron: The only time they were interested in ATC was when two airplanes had run into one another Ron: then all hell broke loose Ron: sorry, kinda got off track there.... I see what you mean' rich-c: yes, that figures - though I suppose that atmosphere suited David Cobley vine rich-c: don't think he welcomed anyone looking over his shoulder Ron: Oh David knew how to play the hierarchy - a skilll that I never mastered rich-c: I wopuldn't have thought he'd play them - rather just push them out of his way Ron: Well, sometimes you can get away with that. David had a mastery of the detail, and could always argue from a position of strength rich-c: yes - it is very hard to put down someone who is right and knows it Ron: In Ottawa, you have to be careful who you push. Some methods of pushing work better than others rich-c: I'd imagine it is teh same in all bureaucracies Ron: the term "political masters" is there for a reason Ron: they always have the option of removing your bag of gold rich-c: yes, although they're not always masters of their ministries - "Tes, Minister" had much truth Ron: true. Think the average tenure of a Deputy Minister or Associate DM is about 2 years. They no sooner get some idea Ron: of the issue in the Department, than they're off somewhere else rich-c: right - teh motivations behind some political actions are questionable to sy the least Ron: the world made more sense to me when I was out here talking to airplanes and ships rich-c: didn't realize the DMs got shoved around that much - thought the idea there was continuity Ron: unless it's changed Rich, they play a lot of musical chairs in Ottawa rich-c: oh yes, I just didn't realize it happened at that level Ron: and I don't really understand the justification for that rich-c: for what happens in politics, jsut look at the latest cabinet shuffle Ron: same chicken, new head Ron: right Ron: anyway, if Pamela can get a spot in the scheme of things, more power to her rich-c: to be honest, I think Shiela Copps had outworn her usefulness, and Alan Rock is good riddance Ron: agreed Ron: Although the Royal Canadian Air Farce will be without a major source of material rich-c: she's fairly apolitical so it's hard to tell if tha would be an asset or drawback rich-c: if she used that approach, it could ease a transfer to the civil service Ron: oh she'll find something to do, if she hasn't already rich-c: I'm sure she will but after being sort of a lifer at Speedy the events are pretty traumatic Ron: sec... Rich phone is ringing rich-c: restarting your working life when you're pushing 40 can be tough Ron: well yes, that's just it.. For a brief instant when I retired in '95, I thought of looking for work out here...... but then Ron: the whole idea of doing resumes and the job hunting thing soon became kinda repugnant rich-c: I had no such trouble, but then I am somewhat older, too Ron: and I know some of the people who come into valleylinks, are in my age group more or less, and they say the same thing Ron: yes, you were ready rich-c: absolutely, and tehre was never teh least regret Ron: indeed Ron: How long was Pam with Speedy? rich-c: I guess it depends on how able you are to fill your life without work Ron: as you know, I have not problem on that front rich-c: I don't remember, Ron, but I think around 12 years Ron: aha rich-c: quite a long time, at any rate Ron: yes - long enough to get comfortable rich-c: and to get extremely uncomfortable when wrenched out of teh environment Ron: I know some people survive quite nicely on 6 month contracts, and are pretty much always looking for work. Wouldn't have it any other way rich-c: though ironically, she had also been talking of considering changing jobs anyway earlier this year Ron: Mom says she wants to go lie down Rich..... willl have to help ... be right back rich-c: yes, one of our best friends ran his whole working life that way rich-c: he finally died in Austin, TX where he was on contract with IBM Ron: right now I could use a hospital orderly's course.... or a degree in geriatric nursing rich-c: yes, taking care of teh elders is very wearing - Frances is an authority, and she only had to supervise Ron: yes...... from what she's told me over the years, she certainly knows a thing or two rich-c: it lsted too long and was too wearing Ron: Mom has absolutely no strength in her legs at all. Walking - even with the walker is a real challenge Ron: some days are better than others rich-c: now it's over we're sort of still unsure what to do, though my health affects that too Ron: yes I'd imagine there's a void there rich-c: when you lose mobility that gets very hard Ron: yup. I can see a wheelchair on the horizon rich-c: right - does B.C. subsidize them? I believe either Ontario or the feds do Ron: one way or the other. BC will probably pay port, and the feds part. Mom has supplementary Fed coverage Ron: as do I rich-c: right Ron: we're also thinking of selling this house.. two flights of stairs becoming an issue rich-c: what is her actual disability? I don't belkieve you've mentioned it Ron: you name it. She had a triple bypass in 1987, she has diabetes, so the circulation to her legs is not good.... she's also arthritic Ron: apart from that, she's 88 years old. Ron: Despite all that, she was on the golf course a couple of time s a week up to June of this year rich-c: just plain running down then Ron: but it's been down hill since rich-c: well, it catches up to all of us sooner or later, and 88 is a well advanced age Ron: yes, Rich...... believe so. The latest problem is that her kidney function isn't what it should be rich-c: that is not an encouraging sign rich-c: you amy want to think about your own feelings about teh house Ron: However, I will not sit still for any physician who wants to write her off just because she's 88. We've had one attempt at that so far rich-c: remembering you aren't going to be climbing stairs forever either Ron: Yes, exactly. And I look around the yard here, and all I see is work Ron: We're going to start looking at options, I think rich-c: obviously, you got a new doctor - as was only appropriate Ron: yup Ron: that we did rich-c: I know there's a lot of emotional freight attached to that house Ron: I do have to cut some slack.... even in a small town like Comox, the medical community is short staffed, and run off their feet Ron: but they do have to accord Mom the same treatment they'd give to anyone else rich-c: yes, and that government you have isn't helping - you're getting what we call teh Harris syndrome Ron: Yes, Rich, that's true. You you don't spend 40 years in a place without some of that Ron: Not that I was here for that long, but my career began and ended with this house in the picture Ron: Harris syndrome..... good way to call it rich-c: and if not in teh picture, certainly always in the background Ron: yep Ron: So we shall see what the year bring Ron: s rich-c: our problem here is that the new bunch are unwilling to raise taxes, however necessary that may be Ron: wouldn't want to be branded as "tax and spend" rich-c: no, but after nine years of slash and burn, things are pretty sorry Ron: When I'm in BC, I tend to rate Ontario Premiers on the basis of whether or not I can remember their names rich-c: right now, if they act rationally, there's no opposition Ron: and this one..... sorry... it's gone Ron: help me Ron: hell of a BC attitude eh? rich-c: Dalton McGinty, and he's eminently forgettable Ron: thank you sir rich-c: the only thing in his favour is teh total jerk he beat for the leadership Ron: Some days I'm on the edges of senility myself rich-c: yes, I have been known to experience the odd senior moment too, as you may have noticed Ron: happens to the best of us rich-c: yes, I was down to our "old farts" lunch on Thursday with my 1949 classmates Ron: really Ron: must have been fun rich-c: there were 16 turned up with two sending last minute regrets Ron: that's a good turnout rich-c: it is, since I believe there wre only about 80 in teh class and we've lost some few rich-c: not surprising; for our birth cohort the average age is dead Ron: to be expected, I guess... but it's remarkable that there's still that many around Ron: rotfl rich-c: let's just say they're a pretty bright and successful bunch, which leads to longevity Ron: well. Rich.... must away.. Have to take Moms walker down for repair. Westjet banged it around a bit Ron: and they've just agreed to fund the repairs rich-c: but one wasx headed in teh next morning to have a new knee fitted Ron: well... as one of my Ottawa buddies recently said rich-c: OK Ron, great talking to you and catch you Wednesday Ron: getting old isn't for sissies Ron: yup.... see ya Wed rich-c: you're so right, so take care now Ron: see ya rich-c: bye
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