Speaking as an individual, who happens to live in Canada, I'm quite fond of Epson! Sorry to get in on this discussion so late, but there are so many subjects here to reply to! I'm sorry to hear of your continuing trials, but it sounds like you are in the hands of skilled, knowledgable and caring doctors, who are willing to consider all possibilities in your care, as evidenced by their research into BCG and Plaquenil.
Cheese grater: no commnet (just a wince and deep cleansing breath).
Anatomically correct snowmen? Would that make melting weather the equivalent of impotence?
In the Canadian counterparts of "border cities" there are as many US cars as Canadian, just like the other side. In a number of these areas, emergency health care is available nearer on one side than the other, and speciality medical units serve both sides. Many people from one side work on the other side, and I've heard that employment in another country reduces the amount of income tax payable in some circumstances. Two areas near me, Woodstock, NB-Houlton, ME and St. Stephen, NB-Calais, ME, have a long history of cross border community, celebrating, working and living together. Things have changed, yes, because of more stringent measures at border crossings, but the people are still the same.
The Canada Goose (Branta Canadensis) is native to North America. It breeds in Canada and the northern United States in a variety of habitats. The Great Lakes region, both north (Canada) and south (US) of the lakes, maintains a very large population of Canada Geese. The breeding grounds were gradually pushed farther and farther north, because of population increases and hunting, until in the 1950's this beautiful bird was actually considered extinct.
They are creatures of embedded habit, and their nesting grounds and flight paths are well established, as are the migratory patterns, to the point that it's possible to predict their movement and presence most of the time. A fatal aircraft accident in 1995 near Elmandorf AFB, Alaska, resulted in efforts to relocate, modify or destroy nesting sites in an effort to protect aircraft flight paths.
My compliments to the highly skilled and experienced Pilot, Capt Sullenberg, who's expertise prevented great tragedy in the Hudson River crash. Last I heard, they were still in the "suspecting" phase, and hadn't totally faulted a flock of Canada Geese for the crash, but that may have changed.
As to the cold temperatures, sorry, you're on your own! Yesterday it was just 2
oC, (35.6
oF) and right now its about -20
oC (-4
oF) here (in my part of Canada), and when it gets colder, we blame cold air from the North Atlantic (out west they blame Alaska!) I guess no one is willing to admit that weather is just what it's going to be, no one's fault!
I'd love to have 4 feet of snow around my house, since I currently have about 7, and can't see the road from my front windows
