Wow! September's Gone!

   And it seems to have gone in a flash. And it was an eventful month, as well. This month saw the 75th anniversary of the start of World War II, the discovery after more than 100 years of one of the ships in the ill-fated Franklin expedition to the Arctic and the start of work on the new Saskatchewan Children's Hospital.
   On a more personal note, September also marked the 2nd time we got "Craig in a Combine" in the fall Supper in the Field events hosted by our station. I'm hoping to make it an annual event. It also marks 15 years I've been tobacco free. And if that wasn't enough, it's been just over a year since I started work here at GX94.
   And that last one is to me the most important of them all. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I work with a fantastic group of people, doing a job I absolutely love to do. Not very many people can say that, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to work here. I also hope to be here for many more years to come.
   Tomorrow marks the start of October. which means I've got a month to learn how to play a difficult musical instrument for Halloween.

TTFN

A Milestone In Health Care

   That's one conceptual design of what the new Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan will look like. It was a historic day in Saskatoon yesterday, as shovels finally hit the ground on the 176 bed facility, due to be completed in 2017. There had been delays as the design for the hospital was tweaked and improved, but work is now under way.
   As you can well imagine, facilities like this don't come cheap. The projected total is some 250 million dollars, 235 million of which is coming from the province. But it's not just the physical building that has to be paid for. There's specialized equipment designed for children. That's also going to cost millions.
   And that's why the Children's Health Foundation has been fundraising for years. When I worked in Regina, our radio stations would dedicate 3 solid days (later reduced to 2) for a Radiothon, helping to raise the needed funds. And our stations weren't the only ones either.
   When the hospital is finally built, equipped and opened in 2017, it will leave just one province in Canada, Prince Edward Island, as the only one without a children's hospital. When it's opened in 2017, it will mean parents and children will no longer have to travel out of province for specialized care. When it's opened in 2017, it will also mean kids will be treated in a more child friendly atmosphere. Hospitals are scary places for kids at the best of times, but having one in our province dedicated to their needs will help immensely. I just hope there's room at the site for expansion should the need for that arise.

TTFN

Success...Again

   Last year during GX94's "Supper in the Field", I got to drive a combine. Last night at the farm of Randy and Kelly Nieckar in Rama, I got to do it again. It wasn't a long trip, just a quick rip through 2 swaths of wheat, but at least I got to drive one of these monsters again.
   And yes, it was just as big a blast as the first time on the final fall supper in the field of 2013 at the farm of David and Helen Sytnyk near Oakburn, Manitoba.
   One added benefit this year was GX94 overnight/weekend announcer Nikki White getting her first chance to drive one. I honestly don't know who was more excited about the opportunity to do it. I do know there was a high 10 between us when we got out of the machines.
   Would I do it again? How about tomorrow, if I got the chance. I think I mentioned back in October of last year that it was great to be able to pull a few swathes off over half an hour or so. Doing it for 8, 10, 12 or even 14 hours a day might get a little tedious.
   Thanks to Randy and Kelly Nieckar for their hospitality, and the chance to get "Craig in a Combine". I'm thinking this could turn into an annual event.

TTFN

A Milestone

   This is kind of a special day for me. It was 15 years ago today, September 24, 1999, my wife and I quit smoking. I have not had one puff, let alone a cigarette, since. I did, however, catch my wife sneaking a smoke a few times after we quit.
  And even though I've been off them this long, the legacy of a pack and a half a day habit for more than 25 years remains with me. I have what used to be called in the olden days "smokers cough". Which is another term for what's now called COPD. We used to call it emphysema. I was diagnosed with the start of that 25 years ago, but it took another decade to finally kick the habit. It was not easy. I'd tried several times, unsuccessfully, to quit. We finally used the patch, and even with that it was a hard row to hoe. 15 years later, I still have that nagging cough which is (and I'll be honest here) disgusting to have to listen to. And no, I won't get into detail.
   And in just a few months, I'll be celebrating 10 years since I quit drinking. That was also not an easy thing to accomplish, but between the 2, I'd say getting off tobacco was far the hardest.
   After all these years, you'd think the cravings would die down, and to a point, they have. But even to this day. there are times I'd like nothing better than to sit on my porch with a box of Cuban cigars:

   And a bottle of Gibson's 18 year old Finest Rare Canadian Whiskey:

   And just enjoy a warm fall evening.

TTFN

Do Not Try This At Home

   There's a new hoax spreading like wildfire across social media, and it's costing people who shelled out hundreds of dollars for the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus dearly. It's being claimed the iOS 8 update will allow iPhone and Pad owners to re-energize their battery without using a charger.
   Supposedly, all you have to do is put your valuable device in your microwave for 60 or 70 seconds, and the battery will be charged. The alleged feature is called the "Wave", which it's claimed becomes active when you update the latest iOS version.
   I suppose it had to happen. Someone out there is playing on peoples gullibility, and it's costing them the loss of their device, and the price to replace it. According to one item I saw, there's a graphic with Apple fonts, colors etc being used to dupe people into believing it's a real communication from the tech giant.
   It isn't. Microwaving your phone will result in nothing more than the image above. A cooked, useless device you will now have to pay for again.
   If you have the latest iPhone or Pad, DO NOT TRY THIS.

TTFN

Fall Arrives

   Get ready for the change in seasons. Fall officially arrives tonight at 8:29 Saskatchewan time, meaning exactly 12 hours of daylight. At least at the equator.
   It also means the slow slide toward winter, with the days getting shorter, the nights longer and the temperatures colder. However, this week it's going to feel more like summer than fall in the Yorkton area. We're looking at temperatures in the mid 20's today, and up to almost 30 by the weekend. And that's great news for farmers still hoping to get their crops off the ground.
   I'm just wondering if I'll need the air conditioner this week.

TTFN

The United Kingdom Will Remain United

   It was a historic vote in Scotland, as people flocked to the polls to decide whether or not to sever a 307 year old union with Britain, and become independent again.
   When all the votes were tallied, the "No" side had 55%, the "Yes" forced 45. It means, at least for now, the status quo will continue. Or will it? The simple fact there was a referendum, and the fact 45% of Scots favour a split could well mean a re-alignment of the relationship between the 2 countries. In fact, the surge in support of the "Yes" faction in the weeks ahead of the vote has already seen a pledge to grant more powers to Scotland.
   And the "Yes" side has not ruled out another referendum in the future, although will be years, if not decades, away.
   I decided to celebrate by donning the kilt, even though I'm not "officially" Scots:

TTFN