BS: The Canadians have landed!

Subject: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: kendall
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 01:40 PM

As most of you know, we had one hell of a ice storm in the Northeast, and our own power company crews were over whelmed by the carnage. Tens of thousands without power, heat or lights, not to mention the Mudcat!

Enter the men on the white horses, well, white trucks, from Nova Scotia power companies. They have done a great job restoring power to this part of the world working day and night and day right along with our own crews. Think that's commendable? Well, there's more. They get something called "Per diem" for extras in the amount of $11.00 a day, and to a man, 40 of them,they have donated the whole works to help needy children!

How does one repay such kindness?

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: Ebbie
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 01:58 PM

Whoa! Now that is how borders should be treated. Congratulations to all.

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 02:01 PM

It's good to hear about this, Kendall.

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: gnu
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 02:17 PM

Eighteen crews were dispatched to Maine from New Brunswick Power last Saturday.

Kendall, I am certain Maine would do the same for Maritimers.

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: Jim Lad
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 02:18 PM

Great news but lock up yer women!

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: bobad
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 02:32 PM

Twenty four crew members from Hydro Québec are helping out in New Hampshire also.

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: Bill D
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 03:17 PM

Great to hear! I hope every one is finished, rested and home for Christmas!

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: Nancy King
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 03:46 PM

Fantastic! I always knew Canadians were special!

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 04:02 PM

Nice story, Kendall. All the Canadians I know are special.

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: Beer
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 04:02 PM

Hope one of our Mudcatters has made it back home (Jeri).
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: maeve
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 04:11 PM

We are grateful. Thank you, Canadian friends.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 04:22 PM

"How does one repay such kindness?"


Kiss them, Kendall, kiss them! :0)

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: PoppaGator
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 04:32 PM

Down where I live, we've become accustomed to visits from power-company crews from all over the continent in the aftermath of every big hurricane.

These guys are not on the public payroll like firemen, police, Coast Guardsmen, etc.; they are employed by private business. So, they are often omitted when we thank and honor "first responders." Not fair!

These guys work tirelessly around the clock, leaving their homes behind for weeks and weeks at a time. The service they provide (well, the service they are restoring) is absolutely essential, and they're serious as can be about getting the job done.

Donating one's per diem allowance is certainly admirable, but even those workers who keep all the money they're paid are performing invaluable services and deserve our appreciation.

The fact that we're often unhappy with their employers, the monopolistic utility companies ~ especially when not in a time of crisis ~ shouldn't diminish our thanks and admiration for the hard, nasty, outdoor work these guys always do for the public good.

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: frogprince
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 04:36 PM

Hats off to 'em!

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: Rapparee
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 04:46 PM

Those who get us through a disaster or any crisis aren't the executives; it's the guys with the chain saws and ladders and hard hats, just as it isn't the generals who win the wars.

But you know who gets the credit.

'Twas always so.

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: Ed T
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 06:22 PM

There is a tradition in healthy and caring societies of neighbours helping neighbours. Canada and USA may differ in many ways (politically, culturally etc), but there is no doubt that citizens and governments help each other in times of need. This time it was Nova Scotians helping those in the northern USA. At other times it was the other way around. In earlier years, I heard it was said that "you weren't a Nova Scotian unless you had an aunt in Boston" (and yes, as a Maritime Canadian, I have a few aunts, uncles, and cousins throughout New England). Nice to know Nova Scotian workers could help this time.

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: Ed T
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 06:30 PM

BTW, During Huricaine Jaun, my power was out for 10 days. It was a Maine Power worker on a cherry picker who removed a huge Elm from my roof, restoring power to the area where I live. I could not believe how professional this guy was....after working 12 hour days for a week or more....he effortlessly cut the trunk and branches with one hand, power saw in the other....it was like he was cutting through butter. He even stacked the trunk and limbs below in a neat pile, not one piece crossed. It was such a good job that A small group of gathered neighbours broke out into applause.

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: kendall
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 08:21 PM

Anyone who bad mouths Canadians is asking for it!

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: Beer
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 08:31 PM

Thanks Kendall.
In the year of 98 I was without power for 11 days. We had help from probably all the Canadian provinces. I say probably because I can't remember if there was any who did not come to Quebec to help.
We also had a good representation from the Eastern States. So a belated thank you.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: kendall
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 08:17 AM

I didn't mean to overlook any of the other crews, but the Nova Scotia gang came from so far away.

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: Jeri
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 09:37 AM

It was December of '08 and the rain fell long and hard
And it froze until each twig was a gleaming crystal shard
Tall trees began to topple, sounding thunder through the night
Morning found more than a million without power, without light

The lines they fell like cobwebs in the beauty of the storm
And many turned to wood fires and friends to keep us warm
And tho' crews worked round the clock for days our power to restore
We'd gather round to talk and say we needed something more

And our heroes came with chain saws, our neighbors they came forth
Crossing boundaries of our towns and states and the border to the north
They came with cherry pickers the cable for to string
They came with skill and strength of will and they made the power sing


The world around is just so big and we're so very small
If not for good neighbors we might not be anywhere at all
I'd buy you all a round, but it's more than I can do
But someone cozy in New England says, 'Thank You'

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: Charmion
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 10:27 PM

This time it was Nova Scotians coming to New England to help out. That was payback, pure and simple. In December 1917, after the Halifax Explosion left half the city bleeding and homeless in a massive snowstorm, the city of Boston organized a relief train full of food, blankets, fuel and tarpaulins, and doctors and nurses from all over New England. The Boston train was the first into Halifax, and without that help a lot of people would never have made it through the week after the big blast.

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 10:21 PM

What Charmion says!
Nova Scotia has never forgotten the help given to us by friends and relatives in from the "Boston States" 1917. It was the largest man made explosion in history before the A-bomb and our circumstances dire.
Each year a Nova Scotia tree is lit on the Boston Common as a token of thanks. The Maritimes and New England share so much common history that borders should never stand in the way of help and friendship!

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: Beer
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 10:45 PM

Here!, here!. I'll drink to that.
Beer(adrien)

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: number 6
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 10:50 PM

"The Maritimes and New England share so much common history that borders should never stand in the way of help and friendship!"

That's why I'm in favour of Atlantica ... Oooops, sorry I brought politiks and commerce into this thread.

I'm outta here.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: The Canadians have landed!
From: Beer
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 11:22 PM

I'm with you on that one Bill.
Good nite,
Adrien