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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Strolling Down Storybrooke Lane

RIDGE MEADOWS DISH

March 14, 2012

"Once upon a time" there lived a relatively young, curious woman who wanted to visit her childhood fairy tales. Years passed by and still she was unable to find her way. 

Then one semi-sunny March winter day, she found herself deep in the heart of 'Storybrooke'. She had arrived! The look on her face was as if the six year old brunette leaped out of her soul and onto the cobblestone road ahead.

Our heroine, an unlikely sort really. At almost 45, she knew fairy tales were just that but still the draw of seeing Mr. Gold's Pawnshop was too much to contain. With a squeal she happily wandered over and snapped some quick photos.

As she snapped her 'pics', she took notice of another relatively young, curious woman also snapping photos. Could it be another girl with the same delightful memories? Indeed it was. Pleasantries were exchanged but alas, no names or online names to share the combined pictures. 

Down Storybrooke Lane, she noticed the Pet Shelter, Bakery and Diner. It was as if she stepped out of 2012 and stepped into the middle ages. Where oh where was Mr. Gold? He wasn't in the store. He wasn't on the street or in the diner. Maybe the evil Queen kidnapped him and made him do more scenes of what seemed to be a serial of sorts. 

Our happy woman, waved a hearty farewell to Storybrooke and vowed a speedy return. Perhaps, next time she may run into Mr. Gold or even the Sheriff! That would be awesome!

Stay tuned........happily ever after hasn't arrived yet.



Amish youths charged after buggy crashes into cop car | CTV News

Amish youths charged after buggy crashes into cop car | CTV News

Healthcare Having Heart Pains

RIDGE MEADOWS DISH

March 14, 2012

The Canadian health care system is having massive heart attack but politicians are ignoring the symptoms.  

From overcrowded emergency rooms. To shutting down surgical wings, to deplorable sanitary conditions, Canadians are being mistreated, mishandled and misinformed when it comes to the state of our current medical system.

British Columbia is just one of the Provinces/Territories suffering from congestive heart failure. A recent closure of the emergency department in the hospital in remote Fort St James is just another nail in the coffin.  For the remainder of  the month of March (exception is weekend of March 17 and March 24), residents of the small northern BC town will have to call 911 or drive to another town to access medical assistance. 

Fort St James is a 152km north west from Prince George and 54km to the next closest hospital which is in Vanderhoof. 54 km could be life or death for someone suffering a stroke or severe accident. The shortage of available doctors for the emergency department is the underlying problem and one that is shared throughout the province and the entire nation. 

Several hospitals throughout the country have had issues with sanitary conditions including: cockroaches and "C Difficile" outbreaks. A hospital in Nova Scotia was found utilizing unsterilized implements in delivery rooms. Hospitals in Burnaby and New Westminster also having sanitary issues. 

Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster was so overcrowded at one point last year, they were treating patients in the 'Tim Hortons'. This year, they are being treated in non-sanitary areas like corridors and the main lobby area. (I'm sorry but the gowns are dehumanizing enough, does the entire hospital need to hear someone vomiting or worse?)

The Canadian health care system is on life support and will need a new vision and lots of 'tlc' to get it back to full strength. 

The Canadian government needs to change their laws (both Federally and Provincially) with regards to Foreign Medical degrees and practicing here. How many doctors does it take to figure out human anatomy? The answer is 1. 1 educated licensed doctor. It's amazing really that governments don't get that concept.

It doesn't matter where you study or get your degree. The body is still the body is still the body no matter where on earth you are. Stop the bureaucratic bullshit and allow these young WILLING doctors to practice.

How many Canadians need to die before a change is made? I think the death toll is already climbing to an unprecedented level. Time to wake up and smell the remedy!

Contact your local MP, MPP and voice your discontent at the current level of health care. Change is possible when voices unite. (also known as Elections)

Reference stories can be found below for more information.







Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Richmond Off to Juvenile Provincials

RIDGE MEADOWS DISH

March 13, 2012

Last night the Juvenile teams from Richmond A1 and North Vancouver A1 faced off in a tie breaking game to decide the Pacific Coast banner and a birth into the Juvenile Provincials starting later this month.

Solid efforts from both teams and spectacular goal tending kept the game locked at 0-0 heading into the third period. At 9:54 of the third period, Richmond lit up the net with what can only be described as a 'ping pong' goal by # 14 Connor Martyniuk with an assist from # 6 Dylan Ferguson.

North Vancouver (coached by Vince Harriott and Max Rivest), were firing everything at the net minder for Richmond # 31 Cole Chreptyk but were unable to connect. Richmond (coached by Maurice Hamlin and Richard Hamlin) scored another at 2:43 of the 3rd period by # 19 Benjamin Woodward (unassisted). 

North Vancouver rallied back and scored by # 15 Sebastian Sutherland assisted by # 19 Ryen Mackaay with :51 seconds left to go in regulation play. 

 North Vancouver and Richmond played the remaining seconds of the game with full force and momentum and with :15 seconds Richmond's # 17 Corey Tasaka goal sealed the win for Richmond.

Richmond's win not only gave them a birth in the upcoming Provincials but also the P.C.A.H.A banner for the season. 

North Vancouver's quest isn't over either. They will now face the Burnaby Winter Club A1 Thursday night at the Burnaby Winter Club. The winner of that game will be heading to Provincials.

Juvenile Provincials are hosted this year by Seafair Minor Hockey with games at both the Richmond Ice Centre and Minoru Ice Centre.


Tolling for Trouble

RIDGE MEADOWS DISH

March 13, 2012

Living in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia could become even more expensive if all major routes become 'toll' roads. 

Mayor Dianne Watts from Surrey is proposing tolling all routes in and out of Vancouver in a way to help with the deficit and essentially make the tolls even for everyone. 

Right now, the Golden Ears Bridge is currently tolled and the soon to open new Port Mann Bridge will also be tolled. With discussions of a new Pattulo Bridge (also rumored to be tolled) it seems that citizens in the Fraser Valley are being punished for living in the burbs.

When the Sea-to-Sky was revamped for the 2010 Winter Olympics it should have been tolled. That highway is for the 'rich and famous'. It's majestic stroll through the cut out mountain leading to Whistler is one of the most picturesque drives here on the west coast but to be fair, it needs to be tolled. 

Conservationists speak of preserving the environment and not being reliant on gas, but they are the ones that live in Vancouver proper and can utilize the 'transit' system. The transit system is substandard out here in the Valley, yet we (Fraser Valley residents) continue to pay our taxes and tolls to support a system that isn't really viable. 

I live near to a West Coast Express station and yet the trains run limited in the mornings and evenings only during the week. Where is the logic with that? Most people would enjoy a leisurely train ride into Vancouver and avoid the disgusting cost of parking, congested traffic and nerve racking driving of 'less skilled' drivers. 

Extend the service of the West Coast Express to 7 days a week, all day long and that alone will give Fraser Valley residents another option to driving. 

Even without adding the above mentioned idea, the tolls on ALL the bridges and Sea-to-Sky make sense. Economically speaking, it is a guaranteed source of income for the government. The tolls can be used to improve health care, maintain the bridges and roads, improve transit or dare I say it, even lower our debt load.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Calm After The Storm...

March 11, 2012


Well, the worse is over now. I've sat a front of the Tribunal and plead my case. Having and suffering from chronic illness was not on my list of things to do before I died. I highly doubt it is on any one's bucket list really. 


I always imagined my government working for me and not against me. I had a vision of a Country that regarded it's disabled citizens with empathy and understanding. Utopian ideology I know, but it is how I perceived my democracy. 


Alas, I digress. The tribunal panel now has four months to decide my fate. Four more months of wondering, anxiety and fear. Great tactic on the government's part.  No one likes playing the 'waiting game', so by stalling their decision or forcing a tribunal (like in my case). They can systematically weed out all the false claims by just 'waiting' them out. Of course, this waiting game is coming almost five years after the origination of the claim itself.


I think I have waited them out.


We shall see.


The journey continues......



Everything #LostGirl Daily

Everything #LostGirl Daily