tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81888862010-01-03T18:05:55.952-05:00As “Canada’s 12th Wonder” Manitoulin Island holds a number of Canadian and world distinctions that we encourage you to explore when you visit our area. This blog however is a collection of personal ramblings, comments and observations gathered first while travelling around the country as a “Pinch Hitter” for The North West Company and now during my retirement years on Manitoulin Island. Feel free to comment, I thank you for stopping by and hope to hear from you soon!A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.comBlogger273125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-36117800686722101542009-12-20T23:58:00.004-05:002009-12-21T00:20:49.999-05:00

…who can blog each day. Oh I could easily write regularly but I think it would just be rambling, most of it negative (I call it reality) and I’m sure you don’t want to hear about it. However… since it’s been so long since I’ve posted you’ll just have to take what you get this time.Have you ever noticed that you’ll find some of the worst car parkers in downtown Manitowaning? I’ve driven in

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-63377470576576799662009-11-14T00:54:00.006-05:002009-11-14T00:58:57.208-05:00

Feel free to add your comments to this, one of the finer things in life.

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-6040317696360112602009-11-07T13:13:00.004-05:002009-11-07T13:28:01.302-05:00

So I'm sitting here checking my emails and doing a little surfing and just happened to glance out the window. This is basically what I saw circling up the lake shore...Unfortunately this isn't my photo as I wasn't quick enough to get out the door with my camera so I thank the photographer and you can find the original photo posted HERE under "Creative Commons" license at Flickr. Good thing the

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-24746480591784167702009-11-06T08:25:00.012-05:002009-11-14T01:03:31.781-05:00

And no, I don't mean for speeding (who, me?) or any other moving violation. Could it be that my Jeep is almost identical to some "vehicle of interest" to the local constabulary?Since the day I got it last summer I have been regularly followed by both cruisers and unmarked cars, sometimes for miles. Now tell me... if you are driving the speed limit and a police car comes up behind you how long

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-29754540146371180112009-11-05T22:50:00.007-05:002009-11-05T23:09:26.682-05:00

It's been an expensive couple weeks. First there was putting the winter tires on the van for $72.00 Then the same for one of the SX2. Now I just put four new winter ones on the Jeep to the tune of $901.49 taxes, installation, balancing and the government imposed stewardship fee. At least I saved the $3.00 per tire disposal fee as I took them to our local tire dump instead for free. I could

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-54885599931079458522009-09-25T23:18:00.005-04:002009-09-26T00:13:59.515-04:00

I’ve now been retired for 1 year and 25 days and I still track the company aircraft on a daily basis, still keep in touch with former workmates, still say “we” when talking with pride about the people and stores… and still in my heart know that for a brief time (35 years, 10 days) I was a small part of this country’s history. I was an apprentice, a fur trader, carving buyer, manager, leader and

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-5631266533183037132009-09-14T10:20:00.007-04:002009-09-14T10:39:56.114-04:00

I don’t know about you but ever since grocery stores stopped giving out free bags at the checkout I’m shopping more often. I certainly don’t mind bringing my own bags and I admit that I always felt a little bit guilty about all the plastic I used and discarded before, but I can’t help but wonder if there is a hidden and secondary agenda to this growing practice.Before now I would go to the store

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-26831666131269218732009-09-11T22:14:00.014-04:002009-09-11T23:05:13.664-04:00

The union that is on strike in Sudbury is accusing the company of stealing money from little old ladies.As I understand the news reports... The company had very definite plans to double the xmas bonus to the widows of former workers. The company is now saying that they may not be able to do so because of lack of funds. They are NOT going to cancel or take away the existing bonus that has been

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-91989943529403597992009-09-09T12:31:00.010-04:002009-09-09T13:30:44.919-04:00

I've had a suggestion that my recent Facebook entries be carried over to this blog so here goes, from the start...ME: Political terms are supposed to be 4 years, right? I think anyone who wants to have an election at any other time in between should have to pay all the expenses for it themselves. How do these idiots think anything will ever get done when it all comes to a halt every few months?

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-83084048469419337332009-09-09T09:10:00.003-04:002009-09-09T09:34:02.207-04:00

Along with a high percentage of the male population I carry my trusty cell phone on my belt. My own leather holster is suited for function more than quick draw and therefore fits my personality well. Even back in my hunting days I very seldom made a snap shot as my preference was to properly identify my target, make certain of my surroundings (particularly the background) and only then ready

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-65734523302077438002009-09-02T22:49:00.003-04:002009-09-02T22:52:38.426-04:00

I don’t think this photo needs any words to take away from the view off our deck this evening. Ain't life grand at times like this?

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-15854254664567107002009-09-02T22:06:00.010-04:002009-09-02T23:01:35.775-04:00

This year seems to have a definite theme to it. In the past 12 months I've become reacquainted with a dozen or so people from my past. Old friends, school chums and even a cousin I haven't seen probably since the late 60's. A few days ago another one surfaced because of a blog entry I made many months ago.Roddy was a young fellow from Oban, Scotland who had been brought over by the Hudson’s

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-12406260629715930082009-08-28T00:35:00.009-04:002009-08-28T08:39:41.597-04:00

So I’m almost caught up on all my projects again and at the point where I can start thinking about this blog and of what could be posted here. After making 28 calls to prospects tonight and then sending them follow up emails I plugged the headphones into the laptop, cranked up my playlist and did a little web surfing.During this vegetating process up popped the mellow sounds of Glenn Miller in

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-40686286671201175452009-08-04T10:35:00.003-04:002009-08-04T10:44:12.329-04:00

I just found a great new web site called the Wise Old Curmdgeon with all kinds of advice, trivia and other goodies on it. Here is an example of what I'm talking about...It takes your food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.One human hair can support 3kg (6.6 lb).The average man's penis is three times the length of his thumb.Human thighbones are stronger than concrete.A woman's

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-11434816832536893142009-07-28T23:22:00.002-04:002009-07-28T23:44:32.855-04:00

I've just been too busy to stop and think up anything to post here. Anyway, I'm pushing to get caught up this week on all my odd jobs and hope to get back to normal next week so I can go sit and relax for a few hours. Meet you on the bench? We can just relax for a while, watch the world go by and grow old content and happy. Wow... wouldn't that be great?

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-76452289504844771942009-07-08T10:38:00.014-04:002009-07-08T11:49:26.558-04:00

It seems to me that this type of online diary is completely contrary to my nature. I like my privacy and expect it to be respected as I will respect others.Having said that, why do I make these entries sharing my thoughts? If I believed that “therapy” sessions did anyone any good then maybe this is my personal form of it. Of course if you ask me… “therapy” and all such other nonsense does

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-77910471718650938402009-07-07T23:45:00.004-04:002009-07-08T00:02:43.900-04:00

… well, maybe for me as an anti-social character it is. I’ve been set up at the Manitoulin Flee Market for several weeks now and have made a few observations. These seem to indicate that a very large number of visitors are not there to buy, but just to visit and get caught up on events. Apparently the weekly market rounds make up a very important part of their social life and it almost makes

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-37245716702803363642009-06-27T22:43:00.006-04:002009-06-28T07:48:47.241-04:00

How many of you are fans of Boston Legal as I am? My favorite part is always the scene at the end of the show where Alan and Denny enjoy a single malt and cigar while discussing the events of the episode. This appeals to me because of the sense of camaraderie and friendship that you can feel through the television screen.I don’t take friendship lightly and while I have my own fair share of

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-19486166756266675762009-06-25T23:56:00.013-04:002009-06-28T00:09:32.340-04:00

Gloria and I had our annual Anniversary Dinner Celebration yesterday and this year chose the Garden’s Gate Family Restaurant as our place to be. Normally we take the Chi-Cheemaun Dinner Cruise for the event, but the timing wasn’t right this year and we certainly picked a great substitute.We started with an appetizer of the Country Mushroom and Nut Pate and this is one of the most fantastic

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-25701082723916838732009-06-24T09:02:00.006-04:002009-06-24T09:12:34.045-04:00

... but it's the biggest darned Pigeon I've ever seen, much larger than any you see in the cities. I mean, this guy is the size of a large chicken and just huge compared to the Mourning Doves that hang around the house. It's also the first time one has ever shown up at our feeder and you'll notice that he has an orange band on one leg and a yellow band on the other. Wonder where he blew if off

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-52942088635238728412009-06-22T08:14:00.003-04:002009-06-22T08:30:18.036-04:00

It's great to see the unselfishness and charitable side of the people of Toronto. I've never been impressed by the city or much of its population but the fact that 24,000 have said "I don't want my job any more" and have willingly walked away is just fantastic. These wonderful people with great salaries and all kinds of benefits have decided it's not enough and have walked away from their

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-18791073755655369722009-06-16T07:28:00.005-04:002009-06-16T20:31:56.362-04:00

Attitude... adjusting.Business... going strong.Family... well, and tolerant of me.Future... coming, ready or not.Health... let's skip that.Home... content.Life... interesting and busy.Reality... understood.Retirement... recommended.Tolerance... no improvement.Wonder... more wow each day.World... start all over again as this one is not working.Some or all of the above are subject to change without

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-79834596599897212582009-06-11T15:20:00.004-04:002009-06-11T15:31:37.751-04:00

Another great Manitoulin product and project. Check out their BLOG or FACEBOOK page today.Thanks for shopping Manitoulin!

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-46098483860508576412009-06-04T20:21:00.006-04:002009-06-04T21:15:42.563-04:00

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188886.post-58230905786269668162009-06-03T12:41:00.004-04:002009-06-05T21:19:51.750-04:00

A Watkins Man!http://www.blogger.com/profile/07774948141463078385noreply@blogger.com0