SASKATOONEXPRESS - May 20-26, 2013 - Page 5
The summer I worked on a road crew
I
am trying to figure out what to do this this was a camp job, where the workers summer. I try and figure out ways to stayed for weeks at a time and then were keep close to an urban area, but far sent home. enough away to feel like I am I walked over to an open fire being left alone. It’s not that I pit where some of the workers am antisocial, but one of my had gathered. I had my huge back pleasures is to be part of that pack and bags I was carrying. peace and balance I feel when Of course, they were all looking surrounded by tall evergreens at me when I entered their site. I and the sound of a river flowing asked one of them if I could have by. fresh water. “Of course, man,” About the only time I didn’t one replied. have to camp out was when I Then, I hung out with them talked my way into a highway for about an hour. The supervisor construction job. I had decided asked if I could use a job. He also to hitchhike all over Northern asked if I ever operated heavy Columnist Saskatchewan, Alberta and equipment. “It’s been years,” I British Columbia. I was in replied. Northern Alberta when I came upon a “That’s OK,’’ he replied. “Things haven’t construction project on a highway. I noticed changed much, and I’m sure you’ll catch
KEN NOSKYE
D
on.’’ What he failed to do was allow me to finish my first response. If he would have allowed me, he would have heard: “It’s been years since I had to do hard work.” I was assigned to a bed in one of the trailers. I hardly slept as I was worried about what I got myself into. Early in the morning I went outside to talk to the supervisor; I was planning to confess and continue to hitchhike. “I bet you’re wondering what machine you’ll be operating, eh?’’ he said. He then walked me over to a small frontend loader. “This should be fun,’’ I said to myself. I stayed there, doing basically simple tasks that needed to be done. Evenings were the best. This is when most of the workers would get together by the fire. Sometimes,
we were there for hours, although in the summer the sun comes up early. I stayed there most of the summer. When the contract ended, they wanted to take me along to their next project. I explained I still had a month or two to do what I had originally set out to do and was going to move on. Not only had I met some real cool people and had a great time, I was also a part of a highway construction project. Every now and then I drive on that highway and wonder where they are building now. It felt good to be part of something more than just a project because it was a small part of building a nation. It also felt good to be able to hitchhike all over northern part of the provinces with a little extra cash. KNOSKYE2012@live.com
Here’s how to make a moss killer that is green
ear Reena, I have a box of old-fashioned moss killer for roofs, but suspect that it is not environmentally friendly. Can you please possibly direct me to a safe product and its supplier? Many thanks for any help that you can provide. — Ian
our house out one year, and when we came back our drains smelled horrible. I have tried vinegar and baking soda, but it doesn’t work. Do you have any other solutions? — Heidi
cola or baking soda, water and dish soap. In order to prolong the fresh smell, there are products available at pet stores. One is Carefresh. These shavings are made of reclaimed cellulose instead of wood and absorb additional foul odours. Carefresh Hi Heidi, is biodegradable and flushable in small Believe me, you are not quantities. Some pet stores also carry a alone. I receive hundreds of Dear Reena, spray that can be sprayed inside the cage to Dear Ian, letters from people with the My daughter has a hamster that our tackle foul stinkiness. In order to clean moss off “stinky-drain challenge”. The entire family enjoys. Like many things in Extra solutions a roof: Combine 500 grams overnight baking soda, hot life, there is a downside to our furry critter; • Run out of itching ointment? Blend zinc sulphate with 12 litres water and vinegar solution the smell is nauseating. We clean the cage Cheerios® and apply a small amount of of water. Spray on, but do is a powerful way to freshen and the next day the smell fills the air once water to make a terrific paste for relieving not scrub. Double or triple drains. Using this method once again. Any ideas of how we can prolong itch from poison ivy or bug bites. recipe as needed. (Taken from a month has no disadvantages. the fresh smell? — Roxanna • Run out of foot cream? Massage feet Household Solutions 1 with However, if your sink continues with butter, wrap in a damp, hot towel and sit for 10 minutes. Your feet will feel substitutions) to smell, you may have a clog Hi Roxanna, Household revitalized. Your first step is to ensure the cage in your pipes which will need to Solutions I enjoy your questions and tips, so keep Hello Reena, be cleaned out. Other causes of is cleaned properly. The bottom of the them coming. Missed a column? Can’t I always read your tips in my smelly drains are old grease sitting in pipes cage needs a good scrubbing, along with remember a solution? Need a speaker for newspaper and think your environmental for a long period and becoming rancid, or anything inside the cage and the wire on an upcoming event? Follow me on Twitter solutions are great. Maybe you can help the cage. A well-cleaned cage should not poor ventilation. Instead of vinegar, pour me with my stinky drains? We rented and checkout my website at reena.ca. one cup household non-sudsing ammonia smell the next day. Clean the cage with down the drain and chase with one cup of baking soda. Plug drain and leave overnight. Do not drain until morning. If the smell remains, call a plumber to check out the system and vent lines. The plumber should also check valves and controls needed to bring the job up to code.
REENA NERBAS
T-BONE OR WING GRILLING STEAKS
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Saskatoon Co-op is the KING OF KOVBASA! Come try Saskatoon Co-op’s award-winning COUNTRY MORNING® GOLD Ham Garlic Sausage, officially crowned at the annual King of Kovbasa event on February 7!
Greystone, Westview, Attridge & Stonebridge
www.saskatooncoop.ca
May
TUE 21 WED 22 THU 23
Pricing in effect : Tuesday, May 21 to Thursday, May 23, 2013