Cal's Journal

Raging storms struck the BC coast this past weekend. An epic rainstorm dropped over 200 mm of water on an already drenched landscape. That’s almost eight inches of liquid in three days of continual downpour.  Epic rains, followed by epic disaster. The experts predicted a heavy rainfall warning for the coast of BC. I don’t think anyone could have predicted the damage that the storm would inflict on the roads and lives of the lower mainland and much of BC Read more

Cat had it all. It was a future bright with potential. She had her new condo at Big White, a season pass, and she looked forward to a winter full of adventure and fun on the snow. She had a life full of joy, winter on the mountain and summer at the cottage. Then in an instant, it was gone. She stumbled with the simplest tasks. Her left hand was now “the claw.” Fuck, fuck, fuck. Why, why, why?  In less Read more

Marijke and I went to our first significant event since the Before Times – before covid hijacked the world. My daughter was pretty stoked to attend the game in BC Place in Vancouver to watch the BC Lions host the Calgary Stampeders. It felt surreal getting on the Skytrain and riding with all the masked people in an enclosed tube. It was strange being out of our bubble and away from home.  The fear of the early days of the Read more

John stood in the bow of the landing craft. His last two years of training had led him to this day. His nerves were raw and he could almost hear the beat of his own heart above the roar of the engines.  “Ready gents! We will be hitting the shore in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5…” His sargent’s voice was drowned out by the sudden barrage of gunfire that laced the air.  It felt so unreal.  But the reality Read more

Time. For all of human history, people have been trying to determine the exact nature of time. No matter what, we can’t stop the passage of it. For the past hundred or so years we have tried by setting out clocks back one hour. Why? Some people blame the farmers for wanting a later sunrise. But farmers don’t like Daylight Savings Time. So why do we continue to change our clocks twice a year?  It all started in World War Read more

John looked at the restaurant as he drove past. He remembered times from not so long ago when he could just walk into the entrance, sit down and grab a cold beer with his buddy. That was before this whole pandemic thing blew up. Now he is one of those that have been told to stay away, he’s not safe. No passport, no beer. He isn’t ready for the vaccine.  One day he thinks he will get it, maybe. But he Read more

Rain has soaked our world the last month as if mother nature is trying to even things out for the intense heat of this past summer.  I drove along the wet pavement and headed to the store for some supplies for our cats, Gabby and Snowbee. In an instant he was there, running in front of my car. I didn’t have time to brake. It was a sickening sound I heard when my tire hit his little body. In all Read more