Nour Kadri for Ottawa’s Mayor

October 13, 2022October 24, 2022 ~ Loreeebee ~ Leave a comment

The more I read about him, the more I’m liking Nour Kadri for Ottawa’s Mayor as an alternative to front runners Catherine McKenney or Mark Sutcliffe.

Voter’s Prioroties

CTV has polled voters to determine their priorities in this election. Public transit efficiency, local economy, possible tax hikes, and affordable housing for all residents top the list.

Dog parks, tourism, and millions of dollars for new bike lanes are (understandably) lower.

Catherine McKenney

From what I’ve heard so far in this mayoral race, McKenney seems financially irresponsible, non credible, almost delusional. Accounting basics and common sense dictate you should take the budget into consideration when spending.

For example, does promising free bus fare to anyone make sense when our public transit system is already millions in debt? It sure won’t increase efficiency!

Mark Sutcliffe

While I prefer Sutcliffe’s “look for inefficiencies” approach to McKenney’s “spend, spend, spend” one, he appears too complacent to me. Perhaps that’s just his personality, but he gives the impression his heart is not in the mayoral race.

I do like the fact that Sutcliffe is new to politics, so offers a credible alternative to “more of the same” rhetoric and irresponsible/frivolous spending.

Nour Kadri The Alternative Candidate?

If you haven’t yet heard of him, take a moment to learn. Nour Kadri ticks all the boxes for Ottawa’s mayor in my opinion:

Intelligent
Well and diversely educated
Years of relatable (but not political) experience
Great speaker, well versed
Financially literate, with budget expertise

Unfortunately, Kadri was not invited to debate the front runners. He would have blown them out of the water. This tweet confirms that!

Conclusions

These are just my opinions of course. Do your own research before you exercise your right to vote. You’ve only got 11 more days to decide until the 24th of October election date!

Happy Birthday Dad!

September 19, 2022September 20, 2022 ~ Loreeebee ~ 2 Comments

Today, September 19th, would have been my Dad’s 94th birthday. Although he left us sixteen years ago already, I think of him in some context daily. Happy Birthday Dad!

These pictures were taken on Dad’s surprise (sort of) 75th birthday where he was celebrated by his family and friends.

A Broken Heart Took Him Too Early

After my mom died in 1994 at the age of 65, dad’s love of life and will to live seemed to diminish. He was only 66 at the time, and the quality of his life deteriorated quickly after her death. He used his advancing age as an excuse to prevent him from enjoying his golden years, but we all knew it was the void in his heart that was the culprit.

Happy birthday Dad, we are all thinking of you today and hope you are celebrating with Mom and others that left us too soon.

Memories That Make me Smile

A few years ago I woke up to frost on the rooftops and lawns on this date, an early appearance even here in Ottawa, but somehow appropriate for Dad’s birthday. As I looked out the window at the whiteness, I could hear his voice saying “HAH, frost in September!”

The really cool thing is that many of his unique expressions and habits live on in my children and grandchildren. His premature white hair lives on in moi. As my three brothers age, I see many of Dad’s personality traits in them too. Here are just a few memories and the things that evoke them:

his affectionate phrase “dum dum” when someone did something silly, often used on his children and grandchildren. I must admit to using it in my own household too, softened with a giggle, just like he used to.
his use of the expression “HAH” as used above, meaning “who would have thunk it?” or “I don’t think so” (when he didn’t want to do something) or when he found something funny or ridiculous.
his ride-on lawnmower that his six children purchased for him on his 75th birthday. It currently resides at my cottage where the lawns are big enough to need a ride-on mower.

when I am out “puttering” in a garden as he used to love to do. In his latter days he would have a list of things for me to do in his garden each visit. As a youngster, I remember my mom picking out the plants, but Dad was always the one planting and looking after them. I know he would be proud and not the least bit surprised about my new profession, Gardens4U.
when one of my sons (or me) yell at the TV during a hockey game.
one of his sweaters that I found in his closet when cleaning out his house, barely (if at all) used, that I now use as garden apparel on cool days.
his use of an accelerant to start the campfire at the cottage, especially after a week of rain when everything is damp. My husband calls it “grandpa’s firestarter.”
wandering around my gardens in sandals (Dad often wore his slippers to do this, much to my Mom’s dismay) with a cup of tea in hand, stopping here and there to pull a weed or two, or to “stop and smell the roses.”
My youngest grandson was named after you, although he is still too young to realize it. He will though, I will make sure he does.
his goofy grin, that fortunately (for me) lives on in my middle son and also my oldest grandson.

The list goes on and on….

Happy Birthday Dad, I miss you! Oh, how I wish you were still here to visit with my sons and my contribution to the great-grandchildren in your family tree.

Derecho Aftermath

June 1, 2022June 1, 2022 ~ Loreeebee ~ 1 Comment

Ten days later, residents of Ontario and Quebec are still dealing with the aftermath of the derecho that hit here recently. Originally no one knew what to call it; however experts soon weighed in to label it a derecho. Google says that’s pronounced dr·ay·chow.

What is a Derecho?

The dictionary describes the phenomena as follows:

a line of intense, widespread, and fast-moving windstorms and sometimes thunderstorms that moves across a great distance and is characterized by damaging winds.
Oxford Dictionary

My brother, currently living the good life in Mexico, pointed out that derecho means “straightforward” in Spanish. Both descriptions make sense as the distinct path spread across Ontario and Quebec from the Toronto region heading northeast, wreaking havoc on its way. Winds were clocked at up to 132 km (82 miles) per hour.

I am still shaking my head in awe at the fact that plastic chairs on our cottage deck were untouched while three trees crashed to the ground all around the same deck. Unbelievable! Big Bird didn’t even bat an eyelash, while we were hiding out in the basement in shock.

Dealing with the Aftermath

Downed hydro wires, poles, and transmission towers as well as magnificent, mature trees ripped out by their roots or split in two (or more) are still being repaired and cleaned up. We have now reached the first day of June on the calendar. Many people just regained their electricity within the past few days while others, including our cottage, are still out. Over 900,000 homes were without power at some point. We have been keeping an eye on the (very convenient) Hydro One Storm Centre site for updates in the rural areas of Ontario so we know when to head back to the cottage to begin the massive cleanup.

One of the advantages of our (Ottawa) suburb of Kanata is that most hydro wires are buried underground. So, while we lost lots of trees, the streets and neighbourhoods within the heart of Ottawa were strewn with hydro wires, poles (last count is 200), and transmission towers.

Insurance Coverage

The Insurance Bureau of Canada advises those policyholders affected to be sure to:

document storm damage to their homes, belongings and automobiles using video and pictures. It has also prescribed that policyholders should keep the receipts if they are having a crew help with the cleanup or remediation of their properties.
IBC

In the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time

Ten victims of the storm paid the ultimate price with their lives when they were unable to get out of the way of falling trees. Many of us were warned to take cover from severe thunderstorms just before the derecho hit. That was helpful if you were close to your cell phone or TV and close enough to a shelter from the storm.

Sadly, not everyone was. My heart aches for the victims as well as their families and friends.

Our cleanup pales in comparison. For that fact I am grateful!