Back to Reality for Now

Well I have been back for two weeks and already have itchy feet. I am thinking of going to China in a few months.

Things are still much the same here and I do not want to appear negative but when are we going to learn? Since returning from my trip I have heard of a family of four with one family member an OPP officer dying of Carbon Monoxide poisoning because of a carbon buildup in their gas fireplace. What a tragic loss. 

I have two of this same type of fireplace in my home and I bet many in the Region of Durham Residents have them as well. Please put the CO detectors in your homes. They will help save your life.

Just before Christmas The Humane Society in Oshawa had a fire killing 140 cats, 3 dogs, and 60 hamsters and other small pets. What caused this fire? We need to be more cautious. Also I am concerned that the Humane Society did not have a comprehensive emergency plan in place to mitigate this type of incident from occurring. The law does not require it. Only minimal plans and a few smoke alarms and fire extinguishers are required. Are the smoke alarms placed where they can be heard above the noise level of the animals? Our required Fire Safety plans are generic and should be site specific. I know planning costs money so maybe when fund-raising commences to rebuild, a fire prevention, response and recovery plan should also be instituted. I am sure they had one but obviously one which could not prevent this type of devastation. Places like these depend on volunteers and donations. Hopefully one of the Fire Prevention Companies will donate some time and supplies when they rebuild to help prevent this type of occurrence from reoccurring.

Recently we heard of a young boy dying in a fire. Again, why is this happening? Please keep smoke alarms in your homes. Test them regularly to make sure they work and develop a plan which involves all members of your family on what to do should you have a fire despite all your precautions. People need to feel safe. Have adequate insurance in place to replace your possessions, but a life can not be replaced. We are too precious.

Heard from my cousin in Portland who did not like the way I described how wimpy they were there in dealing with the snow but also bragged they are back to normal and without snow. All the snow has melted and their mild temperatures have returned. She sent me pictures of the snow in her yard at it's deepest which compared to the heaps dumped by Mother Nature in my yard. I must say even though they overact regarding the snow in dealing with vehicles, they do not when it comes to Humans. Several Warming Centres were established by the City of Portland with the help of the Red Cross and the Salvation Army for their homeless and marginally housed population. Their plan compares to Toronto's.

Another cousin, who works for the City of Oregon, was grieving along with her peers as a two Police Officers were killed in responding to an explosion while I was there. Sometimes you forget how dangerous their jobs can be and take them for granted. 

A woman from Providence Milwaukie Hospital and a former Torontonian sent me a note stating she agreed with me about how the weather conditions are handled differently in other parts of the world. Some areas can not handle snow at all and consider it a menace, but Carrie has fond memories of living in her snow suit as a child for 6 months of the year. She is also a Jays fan. Hey what about our Leafs?

Now the snow has wreaked havoc on our normal comfortable life in Canada. Recently reports of loss of life due to Avalanches in British Columbia have hit the news. This is terrible and I am truly sorry for the families and their loss. According to the Canadian Avalanche Centre 24 people have lost their lives in the western part of Canada and the USA this season. I still remember when my son worked in Lake Louise for over a year some time back and being worried about him skiing. He is an okay skier and sometimes careless like many youth, thinking they will live forever, allowing them the privilege or so they think, of making reckless choices about where and when to ski. On Monday there was a skier who lost their life in Lake Louise. I understand the views are breathtaking and you want to be in the moment and throw caution to the wind, but at what cost? I am also sorry for his loss because it is those who are left behind who must grieve.

Another friend died recently, Tove Lecke a recently retired long term employee with the Region of Durham, Social Services Department. Tove died from complications due to having the Super-bug in her system. What is the Super-bug and how does it kill? We will have to examine this more thoroughly at a later date. Tove was a person who a thirst for life and now it has been taken from her. She was unique and will not easily be forgotten by those she touched. I still have fond memories of the picnics she would host for the Region's Social Services employees on the grounds of her home on Westney Road. She was the tiniest woman but not missed because of the brilliant colours she wore and her bright smile and disposition. Her favourite colours she loved to wear were purple and lime green. What a woman!

Back to weather issues, we are not out of the woods by a long shot with this winter, even without the snow. We still have more snow, freezing rain, freezing temperatures and high winds to look forward to. Please take care.

Until next time.