By Bob Spiwak
Well, I goofed last week. In the column about the leasing of Bear Creek Golf Course, the amount of hours Ash and Linda Court put into running the place last year was, by my quote, 45,000 hours. Wrong! I did not stop to do the math and when Ash brought this to my attention he gave me the correct approximation, which was 4,200 hours. Apologies to the Courts and others who were misled.
Rick and Missy LeDuc are back from a short trip to China, where they gathered up daughter Sylvie who has been going to school there. The family then took some time to go touring, and after a lot of questions and answers, the subject of snow removal came up. Rick noted that in the northern city where they were there was snow on the ground and even a snow plow. One. Otherwise he stated that wherever something needed to be done there were plenty of people around to do the tasks. He noted 20 or more people with bamboo brooms working in groups, some sweeping the snow into piles while others put the gathered snow into carts which were then manually hauled away.
On the subject of snow, there are now 88 inches at the Harts Pass reporting center with the snow/water equivalent at 33.8 inches, or 111 percent of normal. If the predicted rains continue, the depth of snow could well decrease and the water equivalent rise. The ground water here in West Boesel is definitely on the increase, based upon observation of our ponds that have water now atop the ice and in one, even a trickle. It could be a dry year.
Several people, us included, have lately been getting phone calls from people claiming to represent DISH network about the need to obtain a new receiver. At least three of us have gotten a caller who speaks in some kind of thick accent, possibly East Indian, whom we mostly cannot understand. He is probably reading from a script and most of the time asking him questions we are ignored as he continues his spiel.
For us, we are told that if we do not purchase the rig we will lose all our satellite television. Among four such calls, Gloria got routed to a guy who spoke our language, and it was he who gave us that news. Our set is too old, and by the way, he’d like us to sign a contract. Another person we know got the call that the new receiver was needed and then when they called back, a different person said the first was mistaken, and no change was needed.
In Saturday’s mail came the largest envelope I have ever gotten and within was a desktop folder that contained a large memo pad, a ballpoint pen and a calculator about a third larger than my hand. The attached letter contained a check for $2.50, while further down the text it was requested that we not cash it, and with it send money to Disabled Veterans National Foundation.
I thought at first it was the long-standing Disabled American Veterans organization, but realizing it was not, I did some research. It is not pleasant and with space running out here, I will only suggest that you not be seduced into sending money. Keep the goodies, and we’ll offer more info next week. Better yet, look them up on Google.
If you have knowledge of the finding of a ski boot (left foot), Salomon model 8111, pinkish purple and gray, would you please let me know? It would be a joy to the owner. Duct tape did not keep the ski on.
