48 Hours

The term, 'blog' (a contraction of, ‘web log’) was coined when people listed and discussed daily events in an essay format in the Internet. Of course, folks have been keeping logs for centuries; my Dad, a retired mariner, always kept a weather log (which was essential if you were tending the wheel of the steamship or sailboat).
A mariner ALWAYS has to know the weather, and my dad was an expert in reading instruments, especially the barometer.
I offer this introduction here, because I am going to discuss some of the various events during my 48 hours this past weekend.
The fun began at about 2 p.m. on Saturday, when I plan to post a new article on our parish website.
I could read the dreaded: ‘Forbidden: 403 error' message, meaning that I was denied access to the website.
When I contacted the site 'Super Administrator,' she explained that our site had been 'hacked' and that we / she would have to work with the people who run the server to rectify the problem.
Short-term: get the site back up; long-term: how do we upgrade to protect the website in future?
Why, Dear Reader, do these kinds of events always seem to happen on a weekend?
Cut to early Sunday morning, when the web boss reported on her discussions with the server people. She could contact the site, but I still could not.
My wife and I went out to Mass, and, as the weather was spring-like by noon, we began a short tour of the Aspotogan Penninsula, on the South Shore.
You may recall, Dear Reader, that this is the area in St. Margaret's Bay where the SwissAir Flight 111 tragedy occurred on 2 September, 1998. All 262 people on board died when the plane plunged into the Bay after smoke filled the cockpit from an electrical fire. The pilot had reported a 'Pan-pan-pan' (one level below a 'may-day') to Halifax International Airport a few minutes before\, but had turned around to us use up some of his ‘heavy' fuel load.
(The sound of a jet bound for the Airport -- even as I compose this sentence -- reminds me that I probably heard ‘Swissair 111’ go over Bedford that evening. And, as I recall, the engines sounded slightly ‘different.’)
When we turned on the TV news in the next morning, there were the rain-soaked crew from 'CBC Newsworld' at Peggy's Cove, who had been on the air most of the night, also reporting this tragic event by CNN to the rest of the world.
One of our cousins, who teaches / speaks excellent French, met with members of a Swiss family who had lost a daughter in the crash. They have remained close friends.
We had already seen the large Memorial set up near Peggy's Cove, but had not visited the Bayswater / Aspotogan area since then.
On a bright spring day, we could only imagine the gamut of emotions.
Many local people, especially fishermen, who were called out on a cold, rainy night to do 'rescue,' and ended up doing ‘recovery,’ were credited for their courage. The folks who are usually forgotten are the principal and teachers in the three local elementary schools, who set up and put plans in place to help their students --many who were sons and daughters of the fisherman -- deal with this grisly aftrmath.
We later sat in a 'Boston Pizza' for our late lunch. I decided to sample the new 'Pizzaburger' which was on heavy poster and menu promotion all over the shop, both inside and outside. It was delicious: large burger with bacon (so large I could consume only half; the rest, I took home!), and side order of garden salad and my fav. dressing: blue cheese.
My e-mail boss had just reported that the site was finally made available to me and to our loyal visitors at about 2 p.m.
I composed a short explanatory message, thanking the site experts for their work, and the visitors for their patience.
Monday morning started early: the alarm sounded at 3:50 a.m., so I could drive our nephew to YHZ (code for Stanfield International Airport) to catch a flight to Toronto.
For a few weeks during Fall and Spring, about a dozen friends gather weekly in our living room to discuss events -- past, present, and future.
This morning saw the last of the current series of highly-spirited discussions, followed by lunch at a new local Award-Winning delicatessen.
> Our first visit to Edible Matters | Cafe | Pantry | Catering was a rewarding experience, even surpassing the wildly congratulatory Internet reviews since their opening.
The menu is varied and tasty (I DID enjoy the classic 'corned beef on rye' sandwich, with some 'addictive' potato chips!), service staff are excellent, and the atmosphere encourages bright conversation.
Of course, Dear Reader, this situation was enlivened by the fact that I was the only male among ELEVEN interesting women!
This Monday afternoon event was a great way to sum up the variety of the previous two days.
I realize now that the preceding 'show-and-tell' feature could easily have been entitled ‘My Blog’ by Colin Pottie!