Beef with snow removal - responses

Photo: Contributed - thinkstockphotos.ca

It looks like Tuesdays beef regarding snow removal in the Kelowna area really hit a nerve with many people, so I thought I would share some of the responses with you.  Remember, if you have a beef you want to share I want to hear from you.  Email your beef to [email protected].

If you didn't read Frenchy's original beef regarding snow removal you can check it out below this one. Now my Beef Eaters, here is what some of you had to say in response.

I have heard a bunch of BS in my time , but that load of ranting and raving crap I recently read by Frenchy re: the lack of snow removal and  suing the city etc… takes the cake.

At 60 years of age he should know better, but in case he doesn't know, its mother nature who decides how much snow we get  and when ( along with thawing & freezing weather),  and the people who have to move it have no control over it.

I for one have no problem with accepting that fact. I think those who do the job and those who hire them ,do it as best as possible considering continually changing circumstances, limited budgets,  and should be commended.
They have an entire cities to deal with not a couple of hundred feet

This persons rantings reminds me of the Quebec students who want free education . Ask the ( Frenchy) who will pay for increased snow removal. Him? I doubt it, bitchers always look to blame someone else, look to others to pay , and others to take care for their every little whim cause it's their entitlement. If he doesn't like it  here with all us mares and old persons sucked in with the " beautiful Okanagan" there is a simple solution- he can go away and bitch at someone else .

By the way, if requested, I will send you  a quarter  to give to him so he can call someone who might give a fat rats a** about his opinion.

I am 67 years old, have a bad back ,and still manage to keep my long driveway etc.. clear.

-TR

He hit on the head or they only do half a street till you call them.Every year I have to call the city to plow and sand our half of the street.

-JJ

Regarding your beef about snow removal, I have lived in the valley for two/thirds of my 78 years with the remaining on the prairies and up north so I am familiar with many forms of removal, I still do my share of shoveling!! The problem I have with this beef is the cry to sue ,sue ,sue, just who the h--- would end up paying , of course- you and I the tax payer!!!! So chill out and give the cities a break or be prepared to spend a lot less on yourself and more to the tax man!!!!

Cheers,
Dale

Right on getting snow out of Kelowna, so nice going Frenchy, give ‘em hell!

-PR

Just finished reading Frenchy's Beef re snow clearing. Now although I am new to Kelowna I was actually impressed with the snow clearing that I witnessed. What I wasn't impressed with was the way they blocked my driveway not once but twice; yet when I happened to be outside in my front yard they were wonderful. They put the extra effort not to block the driveway. The city I come from, if they blocked your driveway they were reported and they were forced to return to clear it immediately (our  plow was always followed by a loader)
My frustration was more that when I happened to be outside,  they put the extra effort not to block the driveway  ....why can't they always  put that extra effort in.

-New to Kelowna

Almost every old person tells me stories of how they walked through 20ft of snow uphill both ways to and from school everyday in - 45 F with no boots only plastic bags on their feet. So why are they complaining now?

-G

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

A big beef with snow removal

Hello beef eaters (oh that's good, I'm using that again)!

This week I hand my rant over to a reader who has a real problem with the snow removal in the Kelowna area over the past few weeks.  Personally, I feel that its been handled quite well but I know there are plenty of people who disagree with me on that, like this gentlemen. 

After doing some serious editing to make this friendly enough to put on Castanet.net, I present to you a beef on snow removal.

Photo: Contributed - thinkstockphotos.ca

Here's my friggin beef.

The snow removal problem that all these communities in the whole friggin Valley seem to have! Are you kidding me, not one person complained, you're [kidding] me? I'm 60 years old and I keep like 200 feet of sidewalk shoveled, my lane-way and my driveway cleared, with a [expletive] shovel and [the town] can’t keep the rest of the city cleared with snow removing equipment.

I know they all have that Okanagan mentality, "OH, IT'S GONNA MELT."  Yeah, so is the second coming of Christ but don't be so sure. (Editor's note: We know the second coming is not melting, but our 'beefer' was on a roll) With the elderly population that lives in the Okanagan you'd think they would have a little consideration for them.

Where do they get their town foreman's? Pencil pushers that got demoted to town foreman for not [playing along] on their way up the corporate ladder? Yeah, look how much money we saved by not cleaning the sidewalks.

I think everybody that slipped and had any bodily harm done, should sue the [crap] out of the cities and municipalities they live in just to teach them [a] lesson. And you [lawyers] should be offering your services to these people instead of trying to defend some of our rich [expletive] that don't want to split their wealth with their partner, because they got caught [with] a hooker!!!

All you 'mares' and officials should be ashamed of yourselves for inviting all of the older pensioners to the valley with promises of beautiful weather in the summer and FEND FOR YOURSELF in the winter.
[Now] to our frozen footprints in 4" of slush and the brain wave to plow the snow up against the curb so it can freeze there so the water can't get to the drain, are you [kidding] me? Who trains these people?  "I only know how to drive a lawnmower toke, toke, cough, cough.."

And all you parking lot owners and Strata councils, wake up everybody and sue the [crap] out of them until they make our cities and communities a safe place to walk and park again.

- Frenchy (a pissed-off Frenchman)

Do you agree, disagree or have a comment to make?  Please send it my way, [email protected].

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

New year, new you? I don't think so!

Photo: Contributed - http://www.facebook.com/MadMen

So begins another year filled with so much promise, hope and happiness for all.

I want to wish everyone a very happy new year and I hope you partied hard over the holidays and didn’t let anyone stop you from doing what you wanted to do!

Now with 2013 officially underway, you must hold on to those New Year’s resolutions for as long as possible; with any luck, about a week or two.  It is also time, even if you didn’t make a New Year’s resolution, to be bombarded with marketing and advertising that will still tell you what you ‘should’ be doing to kick off 2013.

That’s right, radio ads, television commercials and pretty much anywhere you look will be telling you that now is the time to quit smoking and that everyone can afford to lose a few pounds. I know that these companies are just trying to do their job, but I don’t like the implication that I have to do anything just because I have started a new year.

When we celebrate a birthday or anniversary with our significant other, we don’t make plans to change who we are or how we look, so why is the New Year so different?  I don’t care if it’s 2012 or 2013, if I want to eat a whole meat lovers pizza for dinner while watching Mad Men, smoking just as many cigarettes and drinking as much Canadian Club in that one hour as Jon Hamm does, THEN I’M GONNA DO IT!  (Yes, I understand the irony of this last statement, that's why I used this example.)

Photo: Contributed

A new year should not be a mandatory time for people to change things in their life, those decisions should be up to each individual person to make when they feel comfortable doing so.  Sure, it might be easier for you to stick to a big change at the start of every year because you have the support group around you, but didn’t you stop believing that lie the last 7 years you tried and failed miserably? In fact, based on our own poll conducted here at Castanet it seems like most people are learning this!

I think the reason people don’t stick to their resolutions is because they aren’t ready to.  If we could all just take a step back and start thinking for ourselves again and not doing things just because other people or companies tell us to, then maybe we will all get healthier when we are good and ready to do so!

If now is that time for you then I wish you the best of luck and I hope you accomplish your goals, but if you didn’t make any resolutions don’t let society tell you it’s wrong.

Live your life, your way and have a great 2013!  Now where’s that pizza?

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

The Christmas Party Pooper

Photo: Contributed - www.thinkstockphotos.ca

It’s that time of year again, when everyone you work with will come together for a night of free food, ugly Christmas sweaters, a gift exchange and with any luck, some free drinks! 

Yes, it’s time again for the company Christmas party; an event some people love, some people hate and a select few have become true professionals at squeezing every last free item out of their company for one whole night!

Whether you are the lover, hater or true pro I wish you all a very safe and happy company Christmas party.

Unfortunately, there is one other company party goer that exists, they are not always easy to spot before or during the actual event; however, there is no hiding for them when the evening’s festivities come to an end. 

I’m talking about the Christmas Party Pooper, who feels the need to tell EVERYONE at work on Monday all the dumb things that you or anyone else in the company did at the Christmas party!

To all the Christmas Party Poopers, you need to grow-up and while you’re at it, shut-up!  No one cares if Kevin was in the bathroom puking for over an hour, or if Jenn and Kyle made out in the hallway all night.  Yes, Steve ripped his pants on the dance floor and Nancy had a bit too much to drink and told everyone that she loves them; but isn’t it an unwritten rule that what happens at a company Christmas party stays at the company Christmas party?    

Does it make you feel better to bring up all the embarrassing moments that happened to your fellow co-workers?  Would you want someone telling everyone if you had done something wild and crazy?  Use your brain, show some respect for the people you work with and get over it.

I am by no means saying that people should go completely wild and get out of control on purpose, but I am saying that it happens and it shouldn’t be such a big deal.  We’ve all been there at one time or another, and if you haven’t you are either lying to yourself or you’re just perfect.

My point is simple, if someone gets a little messed up or does something a little crazy at your company Christmas party, give them a break, help them through it if you can, but don’t be a Christmas Party Pooper. 

Chances are the people you work with would much rather work with someone who gets a little out of control at the company Christmas party than the person who thinks it’s their responsibility to share it with the world.  After all, you were all just trying to have a good time, weren’t you?

Be responsible, yes, but have some fun and get a little crazy! It’s your party, get drunk if you want to!

Now party hard, you deserve it!  Please don’t drink and drive.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.